Is social media for you? You may be getting ready for your 9-5 job in the office, and thinking, ‘there is a 10-year-old out there somewhere in the world making millions on TikTok right now, what am I doing with my life?’ Living in the digital age, many people have had that same thought, but it’s the risk we think about when handing in our notices for our Monday to Fridays.
Social Media in 2027
According to Statista.com, over 4.26 billion people were using social media worldwide in 2023 with the number projected to increase to almost six billion in 2027. But why are people signing up for these social media platforms? In Oberlo’s latest survey taken in October 2022, it said that the biggest reason people use social media is to keep in touch with their friends and family.
Other reasons why people are on social media were for filling spare time and reading news stories. finding content, seeing what’s being talked about, finding inspiration for things to do and buy, finding products to purchase, sharing and discussing opinions with others, watching live streams, and making new contacts.
Most Popular Social Media Channel
Now that we know friends and family are the main reason people are on social media, we can guess which platform is the most popular channel in the world. Did you guess it right?
In November 2022, Semrush reported Facebook to be the most popular social media platform with 2.9 billion monthly active users (MAUs). The report continues to say the combined number of Meta product users (Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp) in Q1 of 2022 was 3.64 billion.
The Rapid Rise of TikTok
If you look at how quickly TikTok grew in users over the pandemic, it may be surprising to see that Facebook is the number one platform that is the most popular social media channel. TikTok has a different business plan and is based on quick video content.
Those who joined the platform early would have seen a rise in followers quickly compared to what they may find now as it’s a saturated platform. Demandandusage.com stated in November 2022 that there are around 1 million monthly active users on TikTok, and this number is likey to grow over the years just like every other social media channel.
However, on TikTok you really can upload anything and everything. Of course, as content creators and influencers, you should have thought about a niche and organising timeline of what you’re posting but now, with the help of promotion, you are able to monetise your content to generate views, following and engagement. Engagement is the most important part of growing your page and a key aspect when it comes to presenting yourself to a brand for a partnership deal.
Is Social Media Right for Me?
Having looked at some research and going through some of the social media platforms, it concludes that if you have something to offer that you feel is unique and different, or researched that you have an audience waiting for you then why not? There is no harm in testing to see whether social media is for you or not, but it’s always worth trying it.
Some of the things you should do before you start is to build yourself a timeline of things you are going to post. Don’t just jump into the deep end as there is no shallow end in the digital world. As soon as you create an account, you join the rest of the billions in the world who are on social media, so align yourself with who you are, what you do and what you’re posting. Once you have done that, you’re good to go and have some clarity and structure!
Read more on Pinterest‘s predicitions for 2023: https://itp.live/news/social-media/pinterest-predicts-2023-trends
A Deep Pool of Poeple
Don’t feel daunted at the fact there are billions of active users on social media, focus on yourself and don’t compare. Of course, find ways to be different and use other profiles as a reference to how you want to look, feel and want to be like, but don’t copy and don’t overthink.
Everyone has their own journey, it’s time that you found yours!
Stay updated on all of the latest news on social media by subscribing to the ITP Live newsletter below.
