2026 SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS REPORT - Issue 1
The New Rules of Social Discovery and Distribution
There is no single path to discovery.
Impact on social is now built across discovery feeds, creators, and your owned channels working closer than ever before.
Intent drives discovery. This guide will help you plan for it.
"Vevo’s social content is all about uniquely showcasing artists — from established icons to newcomers on the rise, to the fans that love them. We aim to have a flexible approach to capturing content so that their individuality shines."
Lindsay Sanchez
Sr. Director of Digital Marketing/Social at Vevo
"TSI has been extremely helpful, not just in building strategy, but in showing the impact organic social has on the business overall. We are now able to easily make the case to leadership when it comes to investing in emerging channels."
Julianna Salguero
Social Media Manager at Brooklinen
"Consistency does not mean constant. We post with intention, not to fill a calendar. Community guides what we create through ongoing conversation. We prioritize cultural context over trends. This approach drives relevance and connection. ChapStick averages a 4.9% engagement rate on Instagram, outperforming high-volume brands."
Megha Goel
Influencer and Social Strategy Manager, Suave Brands Company
Key Takeaways From The Latest Trends Report
Creative Quality Drives Reach
Entertaining, high-performing creative earns stronger distribution and more non-follower views.
Intentional Content, Better Results
Intentional posting outperforms high-volume publishing, supporting stronger storytelling and engagement.
Creative AI Needs Context
When AI is grounded in your brand, your content earns higher engagement, views, and shares.
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Dash Social’s latest trends report helps marketers refine and perfect their distribution strategies to boost engagement, views, and the metrics that matter most.
Methodology
The 2026 Social Media Trends Report uses data from Dash Social, covering content from global brands, both users and non-users, across platforms. The dataset spans from late 2023 to 2025.
