What Content Creators can Expect from Social Media Platforms in 2024

When considering the digital age, it’s clear to see that from humble beginnings, big things have grown for social media. These types of platforms are now a melting pot of education, entertainment, ecommerce, connectivity and so much more. With people all over the world having the ability to create a free account and post content, the potential is limitless for almost any need. 

Online landscapes are constantly changing, so for those hoping to leverage the vast capabilities, it can be crucial to stay on top of the latest trends. With this in mind, let’s take a look at what content creators can expect from social media platforms in 2024.

Emerging social media trends 

As social media has such vast potential, more and more individuals and businesses have been establishing a presence in the last few years. Markets have become oversaturated, and with so many people creating similar content and even selling similar products/services, it is now more important than ever to innovate and stand out on feeds. 2023 saw a rise in various mediums and tools for content creation, with the standout options being short-form videos and AI-powered solutions. This was largely due to the growing popularity of newcomer TikTok and the more discerning needs of audiences and consumers in social spaces.

As video content has the unique ability to evoke emotion and maximise shareability while AI is streamlining processes and making everything easier; it’s not hard to see that these are going to continue topping the charts in 2024. There is going to be a special focus on artificial intelligence however, as this has the potential to completely transform how social media is used and interacted with. Helping creators do everything from boost their productivity, to post faster and more frequently and even amplify creativity, those not implementing or leveraging at least some form of AI are quickly falling behind.

Where will content creators see AI on social media in 2024?

One of the top reasons why AI is going to have a huge impact on social media in 2024 is the fact that content creators are going to find it at every level. Artificial intelligence, machine learning and natural language processing will be prevalent in: 

• Photo and video editing, subtitling, audio/voice generation and more 
• Automation – including setting posting schedules and sending out emails
• SEO
• Analytics – for aspects such as social listening and creating marketing strategies
• Content generation and moderation
• Digital marketing
• Increased functionality, better algorithms and more AI driven services offered by social media platforms themselves

All of these will combine to help drive fantastic, unrivalled results, whether users want to create personal content, build a brand, simply generate some additional income, or anything in between.

Amazingly, AI can also be used to create a face for social media. Headlines blew up in late 2023 when a Spanish agency created a female AI model for OnlyFans, as they were ’tired’ of working with real influencers. The model, known as Atina Lopez, supposedly rakes in a whopping $11,000 a month on the platform and quickly became one of the best OnlyFans accounts. While this may seem unethical to some, there is a real demand for AI personas on multiple platforms, but these may be less insidiously used than creating an entire artificially generated person. 

For example, YouTube features many creators who use non-human imagery, such as animations, to hide their real identities in the name of anonymity and data protection.

What are social media platforms doing for content creators?

Social media platforms are increasing the implementation of AI tools across the landscape, to provide a safer and more welcoming environment for all. In 2024, there will be a specific focus on identifying and managing hateful and inappropriate content, analysing consumer data via positive and negative interactions and providing targeted advertising for a more personalised user experience. Those in marketing fields will be able to improve ad management, better segment audiences and ensure improved conversion rates, while influencers and content creators will be able to focus on their audiences and maximise their potential.

One aspect that is especially attractive is that AI protocols for marketing will help companies to better connect with influencers in social spaces for collaborations that will really work. For example, it will be far simpler for brands to understand audiences and evaluate an individual’s potential when looking at the age and location of demographics.

Deep data insights into engagement levels will be able to predict exactly how an influencer will align with brand goals for specific campaigns. There will also be the ability to ensure credibility, weeding out those who employ underhanded tactics like bot buying. AI will also assess and calculate potential ROI, define the most effective content and optimise performance.

This means that those that work hard and organically build their audiences will have greater potential to see success, even if their follower count isn’t as significant as their main competitors.

What else should content creators be aware of?

The potential of social media is only going to increase, so those already creating content or hoping to establish a presence will need to know a few key points. As mentioned earlier on, video content is leading the charge, so creators should really be looking towards more innovative and creative approaches to their feeds. 

Interestingly, LinkedIn is fast growing out of being a professional portal for those seeking employees/employment and is becoming a more welcoming space to connect with others and share experiences concerning the modern work environment. Users can now find useful and interesting content that will talk about how to get inspired at work, how to take care of mental and physical health and so much more.

Projections for the year also predict that e-commerce is going to continue to improve, with increased integration for platforms like Amazon and TikTok improving its new ‘Shops’ feature. Social shopping is likely going to be transformed with the expected integration of augmented reality, so this is definitely an area to watch as the year progresses.