12 Social Media Forecasts for 2019

There are just a few days left in the year before we usher in 2019. The next year will definitely have great things in store for social media. From Facebook to Youtube and Instagram, social media experts reveal their most significant predictions for 2019.

1. More countries will block Facebook

Will Oremus, Technology Columnist, from Slate Magazine, predicts that more countries will ban Facebook. They will use 2018’s valid concerns (data leaks) as an excuse to nationalize or ban Facebook.

2. More paid social networks

App developer Monte Thigpen predicts that there will be more paid social networks in 2019. More social networks will want to get more people using their platform.

3. Return to the Group Chat

DTC Director and social media specialist Nik Sharma predicts that 2019 will be the year when group chats are revived.

4. New Apple or Google social app

After failed attempts at creating their own social media apps, Google and Apple might try again in 2019, at least according to social media expert Dave Smith. With former Facebook talent Michael Sayman collaborating with Google for another social app, this prediction is not far from possible.

5. Facebook’s decline in North America

Founder and CEO of X.O. Ware, Inc., Ken Goldsholl, says there will be more users opting out of Facebook in North America. There will be issues in content moderation in Facebook, which will become a problem for Facebook.

6. Instagram Shopping App

Entrepreneur and digital enthusiast Tu-Lam Pham says Instagram Shopping will be on the spotlight in 2019, as more and more users use the photo & video-sharing platform.

7. Long-form content on Youtube

Ben Cunningham, a former Facebook developer, says Youtube will host long-form content or more serialized content.

8. The decrease in Youtube subscribers

Youtube has been removing spam accounts this year and this will be the reason for the decline in Youtube users. These regular checks will affect spam accounts.

9. Instagram will turn into "another Facebook"

General Manager of Amazon Web Services Matt Wood predicts that Instagram will slowly turn into a Facebook. According to Wood, this is inevitable since Facebook took ownership of Instagram, and the initial founders are gone. Experts predict that Instagram will also suffer a data breach next year.

10. Tumblr Replacements & Group Chat App

Social media expert Alex Alam DM predicts that a new social app will link all chat groups together, similar to a remake of Adium/old OSX Messages. He also said other sites will come up, trying to replace Tumblr, but will eventually fail.

11. Rise of social video apps like TikTok

The growth of the number of people streaming videos via mobile will continue to rise, thanks to the help of social video app TikTok – says the PR agency of App Annie. Snapchat and other short-form video social media apps will help boost this growth in video consumers.

12. Vertical apps will turn to social apps

CEO and Co-Founder of Tradable, Jannick Malling, says vertical apps will turn into social apps through a simple integration of social features. This operating system will soon be the standard in creating social apps, across different industries such as finance, real estate, and health.

Malling also predicts that all apps will become more social because of the high demand among users.

Which of these social media predictions will turn to reality in 2019? Comment below and leave your predictions.

Fazreen Razeek from Grafdom has served the digital industry for over 5 years. He collaborates and works alongside agencies, event organizers, and suppliers to develop and execute their marketing strategies.