Suggested links

Blog: Social media

Read our latest daily deep dives, hot takes, and exciting updates about the entertainment world. Check out the latest insight from your favourite analyst, or search by coverage areas - music, entertainment and fandom, creator economy, audio and social.

“Seems like AI slop”: Is LinkedIn leading the shift towards authentic content?

Hanna Kahlert

6 Aug 2026

Product Strategy Social media Social

Since ChatGPT first launched in November of 2022, AI-generated and augmented content has flooded social platforms. Initially lauded as a new tool to superpower creators and marketers alike, AI has instead exacerbated a pre-existing problem: an overwhelming amount of content that has left everyone st...

Cover image for “Seems like AI slop”: Is LinkedIn leading the shift towards authentic content?

The other side of the UGC coin: fans as part of the creative process

Hanna Kahlert

29 Jul 2026

Cultural trends YouTube Fandom

Algorithmic personalisation and niche scenes have seemingly undermined mainstream culture . Labels struggle to break new superstars and Hollywood productions have fallen into a repetitive cycle of remakes and franchises.

Cover image for The other side of the UGC coin: fans as part of the creative process

Niche is the new mainstream: Marketing in an AI-saturated social landscape

Hanna Kahlert

22 Jul 2026

TikTok Instagram Social media

Social feeds are saturated with content – both original and AI-powered. In this competitive attention landscape, brand activations and traditional advertising are struggling to cut through. Simply getting a brand name out in the market is no longer enough to build loyalty.

Cover image for Niche is the new mainstream: Marketing in an AI-saturated social landscape

Social media first principles: What it takes to go beyond the algorithm

Hanna Kahlert

8 Jul 2026

Business Strategy Social media Creators

The formula for success on social platforms changes regularly, much to the frustration of emerging creators and marketers alike. This is a natural consequence of content saturation. The moment the code gets cracked and everyone follows the same rulebook, that rulebook stops delivering anything that ...

Cover image for Social media first principles: What it takes to go beyond the algorithm

Instagram’s aging userbase: Why the under-16 social ban could be an advantage

Hanna Kahlert

3 Jul 2026

Clients only

Audience Insight Social media Social

Australia’s social media ban for under-16s has set off a domino effect. The UK has announced a social ban of its own set for Spring 2027, with many other countries also considering measures On the surface, the under-16s bans will simply cause teens to wait until they are old enough to make account...

Cover image for Instagram’s aging userbase: Why the under-16 social ban could be an advantage

What do young people do without the doomscroll? Why social media bans present an opportunity

Hanna Kahlert

23 Jun 2026

Cultural trends Fandom Social media

The United Kingdom is set to enact bans on social media for under 16s by spring 2027, with further restrictions for 16 and 17-year-olds under consideration. It will also likely affect how adults use social platforms as age verification measures and algorithmic adjustments take place.

Cover image for What do young people do without the doomscroll? Why social media bans present an opportunity

Superfandom in an anti-social media world

Kriss Thakrar

19 Jun 2026

Clients only

Fandom Streaming Social media

For the past five years, TikTok and digital reach have largely dictated music marketing. For many artists, success has meant being an influencer first and an artist second. The idea of “ 1000 true fans ” shifted from cultivating a dedicated audience willing to buy tickets for your shows to focus...

Cover image for Superfandom in an anti-social media world

Social versus sponsorship: brand building in 2026

Hanna Kahlert

17 Jun 2026

Marketing Strategy Fandom Social media

Social media is the go-to form of marketing in the digital age, resulting in a predicted combined $737.1 billion in annual revenue by 2031 per MIDiA’s forecast . It’s not hard to see why: social offers quick returns and easy measurement, including reach, time spent, click-through rates, and purc...

Meta launches paid subscriptions: is the era of free social media at an end?

Hanna Kahlert

2 Jun 2026

Business Strategy Facebook Instagram

After months of testing, Meta has announced three new paid subscriptions: Instagram Plus, Facebook Plus, and WhatsApp Plus. Features will vary according to platform. Instagram Plus focuses on public signalling, analytics, and engagement: creating new follower lists, seeing who has re-watched stories...

Cover image for Meta launches paid subscriptions: is the era of free social media at an end?

Clipping campaigns: marketing’s next move in a fragmented attention economy

Hanna Kahlert

27 May 2026

Social media Social Content

In early May 2026, New York Magazine and The Verge published articles outing the secret sauce of marketing in the social video era: clipping campaigns. In summary, thousands of accounts across social media are mobilised – through formal companies like Floodify or through informal networks on Disco...

Cover image for Clipping campaigns: marketing’s next move in a fragmented attention economy

Instagram Instants hint at Meta’s changing aspirations

Hanna Kahlert

19 May 2026

Business Strategy Instagram Social media

As of May 13, Meta has announced the rollout of Instants: a new feature for Instagram that doubles as its own app. Instants are quick snapshots that can only be viewed by followers once and disappear after 24 hours.

Cover image for Instagram Instants hint at Meta’s changing aspirations

Is AI the biggest threat to social platforms?

Hanna Kahlert

12 May 2026

Business Strategy Social media Social

Social media is becoming less social. You may have noticed this in your own life, as the endless scroll of short-form video becomes default. Users are more likely to turn to ‘social’ platforms for entertainment than to communicate with friends, according to MIDiA’s quarterly consumer survey .

Cover image for Is AI the biggest threat to social platforms?

Social media bans: boom or bust?

Hanna Kahlert

6 May 2026

Cultural trends Social media Australia

In November 2024, Australia passed regulation aimed at social media platforms. From December 2025, children under the age of 16 could no longer legally hold accounts, with platforms held liable for infringements.

Cover image for Social media bans: boom or bust?

Roblox, social media, and the future of AI integration

Hanna Kahlert

30 Apr 2026

Cultural trends Roblox Social media

The AI race is well underway, with social media companies going all-in. Meta’s triple-digit-billion investment in the space has pushed its AI developments across the board, from a recent partnership with Overview Energy to power servers with satellite solar (per Social Media Today ), to Instagram�...

Cover image for Roblox, social media, and the future of AI integration

Social media doesn’t feel social anymore – so where does online community go from here?

Laura Fisher

21 Apr 2026

Cultural trends Social media Podcasts

A curious divergence is emerging in the UK's media habits. Earlier this month, Ofcom published its latest report on adults' media use, and one finding stands out. Social media usage remains high, with 89% of UK adults using at least one platform daily.

Cover image for Social media doesn’t feel social anymore – so where does online community go from here?

The dos and don’ts of community: What digital entertainment can learn from the live sector

Hanna Kahlert

18 Mar 2026

Cultural trends Social media Content

Social media has fundamentally changed – and the consequences matter whether you’re a consumer, a content creator, a regulator, or a marketer. Here’s why: 1. Social platforms are now passive entertainment Content creation remains a niche activity, and simply posting for friends has become less...

Cover image for The dos and don’ts of community: What digital entertainment can learn from the live sector

AI is booming for social platforms – but so is regulation

Hanna Kahlert

12 Feb 2026

Social media Social Games

As 2025’s Q4 numbers hit the headlines, social platforms seem to be thriving. Google recently announced YouTube’s revenues, totalling $60 billion (per the BBC ) – surpassing Netflix’s $45 billion (a bigger difference than it seems, as YouTube doesn’t have to take bets commissioning multi-m...

Cover image for AI is booming for social platforms – but so is regulation

The music industry’s boiling frog moment

Mark Mulligan

12 Feb 2026

Business Strategy Streaming Social media

Throw a frog in a pot of boiling water and it will instantly jump out, terrified (and very hot). But put it in a pot of cool water and slowly increase the heat to boiling and it will stay there until it dies.

Cover image for The music industry’s boiling frog moment

TikTok US is here: can Oracle run a social platform?

Hanna Kahlert

27 Jan 2026

Product Strategy TikTok Social media

The uncertain future of US TikTok has been pending for so long that updates have started to feel like ‘crying wolf’. But now, at last, a deal has been reached. Changes to the platform should be minor (although technical issues reported by CMU have raised alarm bells), but there could be a bigger...

Cover image for TikTok US is here: can Oracle run a social platform?

Is 2026 the year a western country finally bans a major social platform?

Hanna Kahlert

14 Jan 2026

Business Strategy Social media platforms

Real change on social media has been incremental, with regulation far behind the innovation speed of companies themselves. However, it seems the current is shifting. In December 2025, Australia made the move to ban social media for under-16s.

Cover image for Is 2026 the year a western country finally bans a major social platform?

© 2026 MIDiA Research Ltd. All Rights Reserved.