Social media is always changing. Blink, and new features, algorithm updates, and trends are completely different. The mainstay of social media is that everything changes — and trends come and go. Keeping track of it all is the key to success. Stay on top of trends is more than a full-time job, and it’s also what makes social media marketing so interesting and rewarding. To help make life easier, we compiled what we thought are the top 11 social media trends for 2026.

All kinds of turbulence surround marketing leaders’ planning process, from misalignment with C-suite counterparts to tough economic conditions and never-ending negotiations about where your organization should fall on the brand v. demand spectrum. To boot, customers aren’t just harder to reach, they’re redefining what it takes to capture their attention and keep their loyalty.

Sprout Social and LinkedIn developed this guide to explore the top social-first considerations CMOs need to make as they plan for the year ahead—from where to invest and how to best set up your teams for success, to how to prove the business impact of your work.

What is actually happening on social media right now? Which platforms grew this year? Where do people interact the most? What formats grab attention? Social platforms move fast, but data always reveals the truth. In our Social Media Study 2026, we reviewed more than 39 million posts from over a million real accounts. This report contains hundreds of pages that show what brands, businesses, and creators actually did on each platform over the past year.

In a digital world dominated by short attention spans and infinite scrolling, how can brands forge real connections amid the noise of trends, memes, and fleeting moments? This E-book explores how brands like Lush, American Girl, Teletubbies, and CAVA are redefining digital relevance. From tapping into absurd humor and nostalgic throwbacks to stepping away from social media altogether, these companies show that success doesn’t come from following a formula—it comes from being bold, authentic, and unafraid to try something new.

Most marketing leaders are confident social media can influence business goals—like revenue and new customer acquisition—even if their metrics don’t show it yet. But they aren’t sure if their own teams can tie social to those outcomes. Which puts social marketers under increased pressure to prove the ROI of their strategy if they want to gain leadership’s trust.

We surveyed over 1,200 marketing leaders from around the globe to find out what separates teams who can prove the impact of social from those who can’t. We examined what social marketers can do to make sure their reporting infrastructure prioritizes the right metrics, and how social data can provide value company-wide.

Getting discovered on social doesn’t have to be a game of chance. Virality is fleeting—but strategic visibility lasts. As platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube become your audience’s go-to search engines, social teams have a powerful opportunity to create content that’s not just relevant, but findable.

And the shift is already happening—according to Sprout’s Q2 2025 Pulse Survey, social is now the #1 place Gen Z searches, surpassing even Google and traditional search engines.

How do influencers and social platforms affect how people consume content, research and buy products, and connect with community and brands? Learn more about how consumer social media usage and purchase behavior are impacted by influencers.

Content creators have transformed affiliate marketing from a discount-driven model into a strategy built on trust and storytelling. This article explores how creators are leading this shift, what brands can learn, and how affiliate programs can now drive long-term community engagement over quick sales.

Affiliate marketing has evolved from static promotions to dynamic, engaging content with content creators in the mix. These trusted creators are now building deeper connections and changing the industry.