Companies are increasingly turning to social networks to boost their presence and marketing efforts. The ever-growing popularity of social media has opened up a world of possibilities for digital marketers to reach new audiences in innovative ways. It's clear that social media can add value to people's lives, but the trend of spending more and more time on these platforms has been on the rise. In fact, it's estimated that humans will spend a decade or more of their lives on social networks.
The speed at which content is being published means that if you're not constantly checking your social media, you could miss out on important news, such as a friend's wedding announcement or a funny meme. Reports suggest that the way future generations use social media will be different from how it is used today. Currently, over half of the world's population uses social media, and 83.36% of internet users are active users. Social media platforms are continuously evolving to meet the needs of consumers.
The pandemic has pushed people to rely more heavily on online communication and changed the way they use social networks. On average, it is estimated that a person will spend 6 years and 8 months of their life on social networks - more time than they spend on everyday activities. Studies have found that excessive use of social media can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation, with 71% of regular users reporting this. As global access to the internet increases and new platforms emerge, it is likely that more people will interact online and on social media.
However, research suggests that the annual upward trend in social media use may not continue in the future.
