As DECA's membership continues to grow, our social media presence increases with it. Whether it's current members networking with members across the country or potential new members stumbling upon our accounts based on fun trends, one thing is true - social media is important in the continued growth of DECA.
As we enter 2025, now is the perfect opportunity to set goals, generate ideas for your chapter's social media account and predict what will happen on social media platforms.
In 2025, brands and social media users will prioritize connection and personalization. I believe that we will see brands build online communities to ensure that their users feel connected.
Some ways that I think this will play out include:
- Platform Features: This year, we’ve seen tons of new features introduced across social media platforms, and there’s been an impossible-to-ignore theme among launches. TikTok introduced group messages, LinkedIn launched company page DMs and Instagram created broadcast channels through which brands could message members. All of these new features involve users connecting with other users. Different platforms will introduce more features like these to promote connection and personalization.
- Social Listening: Social listening is the new go-to way for brands to learn more about their audience and what content is working vs. what’s not. It’s when an organization tracks social media mentions of its brand, competitors and keywords. This helps brands produce content their audience will enjoy, leading to better impressions and relationships. By using social listening, brands will develop marketing strategies that are personalized to their audience. Check out this article from Hootsuite to learn more about how to use social listening.
- Video Content: Obviously, video content is in, but in 2025, we’ll see brands using more long-form video content to show users a genuine look into who they are and what they represent. Instead of external influencers, we’ll see videos starring employees, members and others like brand ambassadors. This content will help users feel connected to the brands they love while also connecting users to each other.
Now, let's hear from some #BeTheOne Social Media team members on what they predict will happen in 2025!
- Steven Kim: I predict that current non-short-form-focused social media platforms, such as YouTube, will begin extensively developing their short-form video platform, addressing common issues such as a lack of community or uncomfortable navigation. This will spark a mad race to replace TikTok as a powerhouse short-form content app.
- Asher Leventhal: There has been considerable discussion about major social media platforms implementing stricter age restrictions to foster a safer online environment. While these measures might be difficult to enforce and their success uncertain, they could significantly impact how users engage and share content, creating an interesting shift in online dynamics.
- Brianna Tran: I think long-form videos could make a comeback. YouTube might become the most used platform and hit 2015 popularity again.
- Kaushik Nidigattu: Tools like Artificial Intelligence will take a much greater role in content creation!
- Lumyria Desma: For my social media predictions, I think usage on TikTok may increase, especially with talks of the ban rising. At the same time, Instagram may see a rise in users seeking an alternative. Due to the constant rise, trends related to social media with AI will gain lots of traction.
Based on the above social media predictions, take some time as a chapter to set social media goals and develop ideas for the 2025 calendar year. Who knows, one of your ideas might open up a door of opportunities.
