5 Social Media Trends to Look Out For in 2026!

If you're still treating social media like it's 2023, you're already behind. The landscape has shifted dramatically, and 2026 is shaping up to be the year where old strategies finally stop working altogether.

Here's what's actually happening (and what you need to do about it):

1. Short-Form Video Isn't Going Anywhere (Sorry)

Look, I know you might be sick of hearing this, but ignoring it won't make it go away. Short-form video has completely taken over, and the numbers are honestly wild:

• Reels now account for 50% of all time spent on Instagram. Half. Let that sink in.

• YouTube Shorts are being viewed over 200 billion times per day. That's not a typo.

  
  

Here's the bigger shift though: social platforms aren't really "social" anymore. They've transformed into entertainment portals. People aren't logging on to catch up with friends—they're there for a quick dopamine hit whenever they have 30 seconds to kill. TikTok, Reels, Spotlight, Shorts, they're all fighting for those micro-moments of attention throughout someone's day. And they're winning.

What this means for you: If video still feels uncomfortable or time-consuming, 2026 is the year to get over it. You don't need a film crew. You need your phone and something worth saying.

2. Google Isn't Where Your Audience Starts Anymore

Remember when "just Google it" was the answer to everything? Yeah, that's changing fast.

For younger audiences especially, TikTok and YouTube are the new search engines. People aren't typing "best productivity app" into Google anymore. They're searching it on TikTok to see which tools creators actually use in real life. They're heading to YouTube for walkthroughs, honest comparisons, and demos from real people.

And this isn't just a Gen Z thing.

Business decision-makers are now using LinkedIn and YouTube to research products, compare vendors, and figure out who's actually worth paying attention to.The platforms know this too.

TikTok is actively prompting search-style queries. YouTube is prioritising educational and comparison content. LinkedIn is surfacing how-tos and opinion threads front and centre.

Here's the uncomfortable truth: If your brand doesn't show up when someone asks a question in these spaces, you're not even in the consideration set. You simply don't exist to them.

This makes organic content more important than ever. You need to be the answer people find when they're searching on social. Which means creating content that actually answers questions, solves problems, and shows up in search results.

3. Engagement Is Happening Where You Can't See It

Here's something that's messing with everyone's heads right now: your best-performing content might look like it's flopping.

Engagement is increasingly happening in private, in our DMs, through shares, in group chats etc. People are saving your posts to come back to later. They're screenshot-and-sending to friends. They're sharing your Reels in their Instagram DMs instead of commenting publicly.

And you know what? None of that shows up in your analytics the way you want it to.

The shift you need to make: Stop obsessing over likes and comments as your primary success metrics. Start asking yourself: "What would make someone share this?" or "What would make someone save this for later?"

Create content that's so useful, so relatable, or so entertaining that people can't help but send it to someone else. That's where real reach lives now, in the referrals and recommendations happening behind the scenes.

4. Hashtags Are Officially Over (Well, Almost)

Instagram dropped a bomb: hashtags are now limited to just 5 per post, down from the old max of 30.

If you've been copy-pasting those massive hashtag blocks at the end of your captions, it's time for a new strategy. The algorithm has evolved. Keywords are now more powerful than hashtags ever were.

What you should do instead: Load your content with relevant keywords, both in your written captions AND in what you're actually saying on video or written. The algorithm can now understand context from your spoken words and written text, so use the language your audience is actually searching for.

Think less #marketingtips and more naturally woven-in phrases like "if you're struggling to grow your audience organically" or "here's how small businesses can improve their social media strategy."

The algorithm is smart enough now. Talk like a human, use the words people search for, and you'll perform better than someone stuffing 30 random hashtags at the bottom of their post.

5. The AI Content Reckoning Is Coming

Okay, real talk: LinkedIn is absolutely flooded with obvious AI-generated content right now. You know the type, those overly polished posts that sound like they were written by a corporate robot trying to sound 'inspirational.'

People can spot it a mile away. And honestly? It's getting exhausting.

I think 2026 will bring a major shift in how we use AI on social media. We might even see platforms developing tools to filter out or de-prioritise content that's clearly AI-generated with zero human touch.

AI is an incredible tool, don't get me wrong, but using it to churn out soulless content at scale isn't a winning strategy anymore. Audiences crave authenticity. They want to hear from real people with real perspectives.

My prediction: The brands and creators who win in 2026 will be the ones who use AI smartly (for research, editing, brainstorming) but keep their authentic voice front and center. Use AI as your assistant, not your replacement.

So, What Now?

2026 is going to reward the people who adapt. Short-form video, social search, private engagement, keyword optimisation, and authentic content, these aren't just trends. They're the new baseline.

The good news? Organic social media isn't dead. If anything, it's more powerful than ever for the people willing to show up authentically and strategically.

The question is: are you ready to shift with it?