As social media continues to rapidly evolve, it is important to stay mindful and have frequent discussions to evaluate how it influences our daily lives. Personally, social media is a part of my everyday routine. I frequently scroll through TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube – more than I would like to admit.

Not only do I use these platforms regularly, but social media is also my job. I am a social media marketing manager for a Connecticut-based brewery, so keeping up with trends is important for my career… At least that’s what I tell myself when I’ve exceeded the acceptable amount of time spent on TikTok in a day. 

As a frequent user of social media, both personally and professionally, I can say that the next stage of evolution for social media is difficult to predict. It may even be impossible. There is ongoing conversation circulating about the future of AI and how that will affect our relationship with technology. Influencers now are discussing the need for a new platform, after the TikTok bubble has burst with oversaturation in the past few years. 

While the future of online culture could hold anything, it is certain that social media marketing strategies will continue booming for businesses. As a recent college graduate, It has become clear to me that a new wave of marketing is ahead of us. The worlds of traditional business strategy and social media marketing are slowly mixing as Gen Z takes our first few steps into our careers. 

For the first time, those of us that have grown up on technology are entering the capitalist universe and starting our journeys to earning a salary. What many of us have in common is that we started using social media at around 10 years old and we all still remember the same handful of Vine references that will never dissolve from the back of our minds. Using social media for the majority of our lives has resulted in a deep understanding of online language and culture that could evolve marketing strategies drastically. 

Likely, this will result in smarter and more precise social media marketing strategies over the next few years as this generation makes our impact within large, influential businesses. Opportunities for advertising online will continue to expand, especially as social media companies, such as Facebook and Instagram, continue profiting off of consumers’ time and attention – leading them to find new and innovative ways to keep us scrolling.