2024 Social Media Trends: Insights to Shape Your Strategy for 2025

2024 Social Media Trends: Insights to Shape Your Strategy for 2025

Social media is constantly evolving, reshaping how we connect, share, and engage. With platforms adjusting their features and audiences shifting their habits, businesses must stay updated to remain competitive. As 2024 wraps up, Pew Research has highlighted key trends in its Social Media Fact Sheet, offering valuable insights into the year’s online landscape.

For Canadian businesses, these trends hold significant implications. At Amber 90, we analyze global data and contextualize it for the Canadian market, helping brands optimize their strategies. Let’s dive into the trends that will shape social media in 2025 and what they mean for your business.


Social Media Usage in 2024: A Snapshot

Globally, YouTube and Facebook remain the dominant platforms, with Instagram following close behind. TikTok continues to be a major player, particularly among younger users, while platforms like LinkedIn and Pinterest show steady growth.

Highlights from Pew Research:

  • Most-Widely Used Platforms:
    • YouTube: Used by 94% of U.S. adults aged 30-49, and 93% of those aged 18-29.
    • Facebook: Still popular across all age groups, with particularly high usage among 30-49 year-olds (78%).
  • Younger Demographics:
    • TikTok and Snapchat dominate among users aged 18-29.
  • Professional Networks:
    • LinkedIn continues to see growth, especially among older users and professionals.

Canadian Perspective

While global trends are a helpful baseline, Canadian preferences often differ slightly:

  • TikTok’s dominance: The platform’s younger audience aligns with Canada’s high smartphone penetration rates.
  • Facebook’s resilience: Despite global declines, it remains strong in Canadian suburban and rural communities.
  • LinkedIn’s relevance: Increasingly used for professional networking and recruitment in Canada’s growing tech and finance sectors.

Demographic Trends: Who Uses What?

Understanding platform demographics is critical for targeting the right audience.

Age:

  • 18-29: Favour TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram for entertainment and connection.
  • 30-49: Heavy YouTube and Facebook users; LinkedIn for professional growth.
  • 50+: Facebook dominates, with growing interest in Pinterest and YouTube for informational content.

Gender:

  • Women: More active on platforms like Instagram and Pinterest.
  • Men: Lean toward YouTube, Reddit, and LinkedIn.

Community:

  • Urban users dominate Instagram and TikTok.
  • Suburban and rural communities favor Facebook and YouTube.

Strategic Insights for Canadian Businesses

To capitalize on these trends, businesses must align their strategies with platform-specific strengths.

Platform-Specific Opportunities:

  1. TikTok and Instagram:
    • Create short-form, engaging video content to connect with younger audiences.
    • Use trending hashtags and challenges to boost visibility.
  2. Facebook and YouTube:
    • Focus on community-building and educational content.
    • Leverage YouTube Shorts to complement long-form videos.
  3. LinkedIn:
    • Share thought leadership content and connect with decision-makers in industries like tech and finance.

Ad Spend Optimization:

  • Allocate budgets based on platform growth and audience preferences.
  • Experiment with emerging ad formats like TikTok Spark Ads and Instagram Reels Ads.

Why Social Media Metrics Matter More Than Ever

As social platforms evolve, so do their measurement tools. For instance, Meta’s transition to ‘Views’ as the primary metric across Facebook and Instagram reflects a broader shift toward simplified analytics.

What This Means for Businesses:

  • Better Insights: Unified metrics across platforms make it easier to assess content performance.
  • Actionable Data: Metrics like time spent and repeat views reveal deeper engagement patterns.
  • Opportunities to Refine: Use analytics to identify high-performing content and replicate its success.

Amber 90: Your Partner in Social Media Success

Navigating the ever-changing social media landscape can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. At Amber 90, we specialize in crafting tailored social media strategies that leverage platform-specific strengths.

Why Choose Amber 90?

  • Proven Expertise: From TikTok to LinkedIn, we know what works.
  • Custom Strategies: Every brand is unique, and so is our approach.
  • Data-Driven Results: We use analytics to refine and optimize campaigns for maximum ROI.

Preparing for 2025: Key Takeaways

  1. Audit Your Presence: Ensure you’re active on platforms where your audience is most engaged.
  2. Invest in Video: Short-form content continues to dominate.
  3. Leverage Professional Platforms: Build authority with thought leadership on LinkedIn.
  4. Analyze and Adapt: Use insights to refine your strategy continuously.

Conclusion

The social media trends of 2024 offer a roadmap for success in 2025. By understanding platform preferences and aligning your strategy with audience behavior, you can ensure your business stays ahead in the digital game.

At Amber 90, we don’t just follow trends—we help you lead them. Let’s shape your social media future together.

Ready to grow your brand online?
Contact Amber 90 today.


Would you like me to craft social media posts to promote this blog on LinkedIn and Twitter?

Facebook’s New ‘Views’ Metric: What It Means for Your Business

Facebook’s New ‘Views’ Metric: What It Means for Your Business

Social media is always evolving, and staying ahead of the curve is crucial for any business aiming to maximize its online presence. The latest shift from Meta to use ‘Views’ as the primary metric on Facebook and Instagram marks a significant change in how brands measure and analyze their content performance. At Amber 90, we specialize in helping businesses navigate these updates, ensuring you stay competitive in the digital landscape. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Facebook Views metric and how it impacts your social media strategy.


What Is the New Facebook ‘Views’ Metric?

Meta has introduced ‘Views’ as the primary performance metric across Facebook and Instagram. This shift replaces variable metrics such as ‘Plays,’ ‘Impressions,’ and ‘Watch Time’ with a single, streamlined measurement.

Key Details:

  • Definition of Views: The number of times content (photos, videos, text posts, or Stories) appears on a user’s screen, including repeat views.
  • For Non-Video Content: ‘Views’ replaces ‘Impressions.’ Each time a user sees a post, it’s counted—even if they view it multiple times a day.
  • For Video Content: ‘Plays’ is now renamed ‘Views,’ with no changes in how the data is calculated.

This change unifies performance metrics across both platforms, simplifying reporting and providing a clearer picture of your audience’s engagement.


Why Did Facebook Make This Change?

Meta’s decision reflects the growing dominance of video content across social media platforms and the need for a more intuitive analytics framework.

The Benefits of ‘Views’:

  1. Simplified Metrics: One consistent metric across all content types makes it easier for creators and brands to track engagement.
  2. Cross-Platform Alignment: Facebook and Instagram now use the same primary metric, streamlining your social media strategy.
  3. Insightful Engagement Data: Capturing repeat views highlights highly engaging or rewatchable content.

What Does This Mean for Your Data?

If you’ve noticed changes in your Facebook Insights, you’re not alone. The new ‘Views’ metric introduces some nuances in how performance is measured.

Key Changes:

  • Repeat Views Counted: A single user viewing the same photo or post multiple times will now count as multiple views, potentially inflating numbers compared to previous ‘Impressions.’
  • Video Metrics Updated:
    • Minutes Viewed: Replaces ‘Watch Time,’ rounding data to the nearest minute.
    • Average Minutes Viewed: A simplified version of the previous ‘Average Watch Time.’

While these updates simplify reporting, businesses should reassess their benchmarks to avoid misinterpreting inflated numbers as sudden spikes in success.


How Can Businesses Adapt to the New Metric?

Adjusting to Facebook’s ‘Views’ metric is more than just a numbers game—it’s an opportunity to rethink and refine your social media strategy.

Steps to Optimize Your Strategy:

  1. Analyze Repeat Views: Identify content that drives multiple views to understand what resonates with your audience.
  2. Focus on Video Engagement: With video at the forefront of Facebook’s strategy, invest in short, engaging videos that encourage replays.
  3. Reassess Performance Goals: Update KPIs to align with the new metrics and establish new benchmarks for success.
  4. Leverage Meta Business Suite: Utilize updated tools and dashboards to track and interpret performance effectively.

Why Work with Amber 90?

Navigating changes like this can be overwhelming, but that’s where Amber 90 comes in. As experts in social media marketing, we help businesses leverage updates like the Facebook ‘Views’ metric to maximize engagement and ROI.

Here’s What We Offer:

  • Tailored Social Strategies: Customized plans based on your brand’s goals and audience.
  • Performance Analytics: In-depth reporting and insights to ensure you understand the story behind your data.
  • Content Optimization: From video to text posts, we create content that captivates and converts.

Our team stays ahead of social media trends so you don’t have to—making Amber 90 your trusted partner for digital success.


The Bigger Picture: Preparing for the Future of Social Media

Facebook’s move to the ‘Views’ metric signals a broader trend towards video-first content and unified performance metrics across platforms. For businesses, it’s a chance to adapt, innovate, and thrive in an ever-changing landscape.

Key Takeaways:

  • Understand how ‘Views’ are calculated and adjust your strategy accordingly.
  • Focus on creating rewatchable, engaging content to maximize repeat views.
  • Partner with experts like Amber 90 to stay ahead of social media updates.

Conclusion

The new Facebook Views metric isn’t just a change in terminology—it’s a shift in how businesses can analyze and optimize their content. By simplifying metrics and aligning Facebook with Instagram, Meta has created a more intuitive way to track audience engagement. With Amber 90 by your side, you can turn these changes into opportunities to grow your brand’s online presence.

Ready to elevate your social media strategy?
Contact Amber 90 today and let’s transform your engagement into measurable success.