Social media companies have been under a fair amount of scrutiny in recent weeks, but that hasn't changed their degree of popularity with users, as the April 2018 social media trends show. Whether because of the gamification inherent in the features of social media platforms or because of the more wholesome desire to simply connect with one's friends and family online, social media is as ubiquitous as ever.
It's important to be a responsible user on social media. Various news and new projects make that clear. A digital designer recently started an Instagram account with a model named Shudu, and it's quickly gained followers thanks to alluring and enticing imagery featuring the female. The thing is, Shudu isn't real — it's a completely digital rendering designed by the artists behind the account. Users unfamiliar with that conceit might strive to replicate Shudu's unrealistic, literally unreal beauty ideals. So savvy media consumption is a necessity in the modern social media landscape.
Top 35 Social Media Trends in April
35
Fully Digital Models
Shudu is a Project by Photographer Cameron James-Wilson
34
The Social Entrepreneur Revolution
We Asked Gary Vaynerchuk What Goes into 'Crushing It!'
33
Influencer-Labeling Apparel
Pizzaslime's Influencer Apparel is for the Self-Aware Self-Promoter
32
Realistic Succulent Plant Cakes
Brooklyn Floral Delight Makes Deceptive Cactus-Like Cakes
31
4K Vlogging Cameras
The 'Idolcam' Ensures Smooth Recording of Personal Video Blogs
30
Confrontational Digital Media Signs
Mike Campau's Series 'Anti-Social' is a Look at Social Media
29
Socially Inspired Recipes
Knorr's 'Eat Your Feed' Matches Meals to One's Instagram Posts
28
Uncomfortable Facial Art
The Work of Austin Smith is Confrontational in Its Very Essence
27
Foodie Social Network Apps
The 'Yumme' App Lets Users Share Their Favorite Restaurant Experiences
26
Collaborative Comedic Influencer Palettes
Morphe and Bretman Rock Created a Highlighter Palette
25
Luxury eCommerce Experiences
Gucci's Collection Can be Purchased Through WeChat
24
International Pen Pal Apps
The 'PEN PALS' Social Network You Send Notes to Others Around the World
23
Female-Centric Sneakerhead Blogs
Girl on Kicks Boasts Female-Focused Sneaker News Coverage
22
Creative In-Game Ads
Nike and McDonald's are Advertising Through a Game on the WeChat App
21
Mysterious Single-Malt Whiskies
'The Glenlivet Code' is Paired with Shazam and an AR Experience
20
Social Video Mashup Apps
The 'YuVie' Social Video App Infuses You into Popular Media
19
High Fashion Hotlines
The Balenciaga 2018 Runway Show Featured an Interactive Phone Line Component
18
Kissing Fast Food-Branded Contests
Mcdonald's and WeChat Awarded Couples with Free Macarons
17
Gamified Social Media Apps
The APPICS Platform Rewards Content Creation with Cryptocurrency Tokens
16
Augmented Drawing Apps
Google's 'Just a Line' App Enhances Videos with Dynamic AR Drawings
15
Kid Shoe Design Contests
Puma X Sesame Street Has Challenged Kids with a Social Media Challenge
14
Social Travel Ad Tools
Facebook is Helping Travel Advertisers with Its Trip Consideration Tool
13
Festive Donut Social Competitions
This New Dunkin' Donuts Campaign Prompts Social Engagement
12
Social Media-Powered Website Builders
'Creaclick' Turns Instagram Content into Beautiful Sites
11
In-App Purse Promotions
Dior and Wechat Promoted a New Luxury Purse Through the Social Network
10
Automated Social Marketing Tools
'Gram Growth' Streamlines Instagram Marketing for Fast Growth
9
Creator-Made AR Lenses
Snapchat is Now Allowing All Users the Chance to Have a Featured AR Lens
8
Global Content Social Networks
'Discover Lyfe' Offers Access to International Content
7
Adventurous Event Discovery Apps
The 'Wispy' App Spotlights Content to Encourage Exploration
6
Recycled Photo-Sharing Features
The New Instagram Reshare Feature Lets Users Post Others' Content
5
Cyberbullying Education Platforms
Agree Online Helps Children with Online Conflict Resolution
4
Encoder-Free Live Streaming Features
The New YouTube Webcam Feature Helps Creators Stream Content
3
Social Media Hashtag Updates
Users Can Now Include Clickable Hashtags on Their Instagram Bios
2
Spontaneous Contact-Sharing Apps
The 'SCRATCH' App Seamlessly Lets You Socialize and Share Info
1
Expansive Social Sports Accounts
FIFA's Digital Presence is Expanding to China with Weibo
Related Ideas
Virtual Fashion Contests
Bratz and ZEPETO Launch a Four-Week Avatar Styling Challenge
Location-Based Social Media Features
Instagram Map Connects Friends Who are Nearby One Another
Group-Centric Social Media Platforms
Chatter Social Has Unveiled Its Version 2 Platform
Social Media-Inspired Retail Apps
Depop Outfits Lets Users Create Moodboards and Collages
Authentic Connection Campaigns
Heineken's Hijack Socialization Encourages Out-of-Home Gatherings
Digital Avatar Makeup
Roblox Expands into Digital Avatar Makeup with Customizable Cosmetics
Social Media Subscription Services
The Instagram Plus Subscription Offers Users Exclusive Features
Cross-Platform Aggregator Apps
Flipboard Surf Aggregates Social Media, And More For Browsing
Varsity Influencer Teams
UNC Turns Student-Athletes Into Social Media Monetization Experts
Customer-Starring Billboards
Bobbie's Campaign Spotlights Moms as "the OG Influencers"
Bold Beauty Campaigns
IPSY Reframes Beauty as a Hobby with the 'I Play Beauty' Campaign
Social Media Follower-Celebrating Initiatives
Streets of Toronto Marks 600k Instagram Followers
Digital Fan Engagement Platforms
Fambase's Platform is an Alternative to Traditional Social Media
Anti-Digital Social Campaigns
Heineken Partners with Joe Jonas for 'Socials Off Socials'
Shoppable Beauty Routine Apps
BeautyShelf Helps Users Discover Authentic Recommendations
Social Insight Tools
Currents AI Turns Social Media Data Into Actionable Business Insights
Self-Expression Festival Activations
Barbie Brings Customizable Persona-Building to Coachella
AI Influencer Platforms
Statusphere Raised $18 Million to Scale Micro-Influencer Marketing
Ephemeral Photo-Sharing Apps
Instagram Instants App Introduces Single-View 24-Hour Photos
College-Focused Social Platforms
TikTok's Campus Verification Feature Mirrors Early Facebook
Social Commerce Integrations
Ulta Beauty Launches a Creator-Driven TikTok Shop
AI Beauty Apps
Refresh App Combines Hair, Makeup and Styling in One AI Platform
Digital Well-Being Updates
Tiktok Adds Mindfulness Tools and User Controls Over Ai Content
AI Avatar Generators
Selfie AI Transforms Selfies Into Personalized AI-Generated Portraits
Social Media Entertainment Apps
The Instagram Reels Fire TV App Turns Content into Entertainment
Unfiltered Skincare Campaigns
The Indu Spots Happen Campaign Celebrates Unretouched Teen Skin
Anti-Algorithm Social Platforms
Buzzfeed’s Branch Office Creates Interactive AI-Powered Apps
Secret Friends Social Features
The Secret Friends List Debuts on Instagram with Selena Gomez
Local Social Media Feeds
TikTok’s Local Feed Uses Precise Location Opt-In, Excludes Minors
Feedless Social Platforms
Bond Eliminates Feeds to Focus on Real-Life Experiences
Easy-to-Use Content Editing Apps
Meta Launched 'Edits' for Instagram Creators on Mobile Devices
In-Person-Only Social Apps
Friendster relaunch limits connections to people met in real life
Roblox Popularity Trackers
Rotrends Shows What’s Popular on Roblox and Why
Social-First Retail Commerce
Shoezone expands TikTok Shop through creator-led shopping
Communal Social Video Features
Instagram Blend Create Communal Reel Playlists with Friends
AI Photo Generation
Ai4photos Creates Personalized AI Models And Realistic Digital Avatars
Shoppable Reel Features
Meta Expands Reels with Product Tagging on Instagram and Facebook
Content Creation Tools
AI Social Media Post Generator Creates Platform-Ready Content Fast
Creativity-Celebrating Social Media Awards
The Instagram Rings Award Honors Exemplary Creators
Social-to-Outdoor Campaigns
Tribesigns Extends TikTok's Super Wish Campaign to Times Square
Peer-Powered Gifting Initiatives
indu and SoPost Encourage Customers to Share Samples with Friends
Social Content Platforms
WiseContent Helps You Generate, Optimize, and Share Social Posts
Pet Social Platforms
Bark Baee Builds A Dedicated Social Network For Pet Owners
Social Media Automation Tools
AI Instagram Influencer Automates Posting & Messaging With AI Agents
Virtual Influencer Creators
Optodolce Enables Easy Creation of Virtual Influencers for Marketing
Pet Community Hubs
PetDiary Lets Users Capture And Share Their Pet’s Journey In One Place
Unified Social Management
Social Champ Simplifies Multi-Platform Posting & Analytics For Agencies
Social Media Hubs
Unified Socials Centralizes Management Across Multiple Platforms
On-Demand Content Creation Apps
Social Agent Connects Users to Certified Content Creators
Branded App Takeovers
TikTok Introduces Logo Takeover Ads That Dominate the App’s Opening Screen
Emerging Market Insights
Rising Trends Helps Discover Hidden Markets And Business Opportunities
AI-Driven Social Networks
With SocialAI, Users Can Create Their Own AI-Powered Social Experiences
Custom Comment Creators
Instagram Comment Generator Lets You Design Personalized TikTok Replies
Social Media Automation Tools
Olly 2.0 Boosts Engagement Across 15+ Social Platforms With AI
Social-First Beauty Retailers
Sally Beauty Joins TikTok Shop
Digital Journaling Platforms
Moments Helps Users Reflect, Track, and Journal for Personal Growth
Automated Engagement Tools
AI Reply Generator: social24 Customizes Replies Across Social Platforms
Social Media Schedulers
SocialLater Automates Social Media Posting Across Multiple Platforms
Social Engagement Platforms
Sociable AI Predicts Viral Posts And Generates Brand Aligned Comments
Consumer Review Platforms
Discover Real Brand Experiences with DapplePot’s Community Insights
Focused Fashion Feeds
Clone Helps You Stay Updated with Fashion Trends Sustainably
Parental Social Media Alerts
This Instagram Alert Will Let Parents Know of Troubling Teen Searches
Social Travel Booking Platforms
TikTok GO Turns Creator Travel Videos Into Bookable Trips
Social Networking Hubs
Internet Social Café Lets Users Explore Cafés and Build Online Connections
Attention Economy Agencies
VaynerX Launches Tamara Group to Drive Social-First Brand Relevance
AI-Powered Creator Platforms
Android Added Advanced Mobile Editing and Creator Tools
Social Network Number Puzzles
LinkedIn Mini Sudoku Encourages Users to Log On Regularly
Brand Asset Creators
Assets Generator Lets Users Create Social Media Images And Marketing Assets
AI-Assisted Social Media Tools
Bupple Version 2 Supplements Social Media Content Creation
Social Media Creator Initiatives
Snapchat Launches its Gen Z-Focused Creator Connect Service
Niche Club Apps
Phictly Connects Fans of Books, Movies & Shows in Small, Engaged Groups
Social Media Design Tools
Graphionica Makes It Easy To Create Stylish Instagram Stories & Visuals
Social Media Growth Tools
PulseUp.top Simplifies Social Media Management & Business Opportunities
AI Community Growth
SocialOne Helps Acquire, Analyze, And Engage Members Across Social Platforms
Social Media Organizers
Gem Turns TikTok and Instagram Bookmarks Into Searchable Lists
Focused Social Platforms
LastWeekend Prioritizes Sharing Moments With People Who Matter Most
Custom AI Social Feeds
Bluesky’s Attie Lets Users Build Feeds with AI
Social Media-Inspired Streaming Apps
The Netflix App Feed Will Introduce a TikTok-Like Style
Creative Editing Tools
Emojify Photo Adds Stickers And Emojis To Images For Quick Customization
Real-Time Sharing Apps
MomentsHub Lets You Discover And Share Nearby Experiences Instantly
Expressive App Icons
The Instagram Teen Icons Deliver Vibrant Customization for Younger Users
Social Content Organizers
CentralSave Organizes Saved Posts Across Instagram, TikTok, and More
Real-Time Social Chats
Threads introduces live group chats around major cultural events
Social Media Sticker Tools
Instagram Comment Sticker Generator Creates Engaging Reply Stickers
Custom Social Platforms
Nightlight Offers Inclusive And Highly Custom Social Media Experiences
Unified Profile Previews
PreviewMyProfile Shows Cross-Platform Social Profiles Before You Publish
Internal Social Platforms
Mush Social Enables Private Communication And Engagement For Teams
AI Social Connectors
Blurbs Provides AI-Moderated Group Chats To Foster Genuine Connections
Decentralized Social Websites
Surf Enables Creator-Owned Platforms
Shoppable Swimsuits
Sports Illustrated Launches Its Shoppable Swimsuits
Ad-Free Social Subscriptions
TikTok Introduced a Paid Ad-Free Experience for UK Users
Performance-Based Creator Platforms
Picsart Earn Program Pays Creators Based on Engagement
Custom Profile Badges
Create Custom Profile Badges for Social Media with Profile Badge Tool
Social Image Comparisons
Compare AI Enables AI-Powered Photo Comparisons And Social Ranking
Event Memory Platforms
Media Vibes Makes Group Photo Collection Simple And Collaborative
Social Media Schedulers
ScheduPost Lets You Schedule And Publish Content Efficiently
Cover Image Generators
Cover Photo Generators Create Social Media Headers From Text
Creative Analytics Platforms
Superads Delivers AI Ad Insights Across Major Social Media Channels
Layered Online Content Reports
YouTube Defines Creative Maximalism as the Key Point After 20 Years
Audience Insight Hubs
Bluesky Analytics Helps Track Engagement and Schedule Posts Across Platforms
Paired-Down Social Media Platforms
Month Friend Boasts a New Experience in the Hyper-Digital World
Screen Time Management
DeepFocus Helps Users Control Screen Use and Build Healthier Habits
Teen Content Filters
Instagram Expands Age-Rated Experiences with Stricter Parental Controls
Media Intelligence Tools
Media Watcher Tracks Global News And Social Buzz In Real Time
Digital Focus Tools
Impulse Buddy Introduces Social Accountability For App Usage Control
Influencer Discovery Assistants
SocialiQ 2.0 Automates Influencer Research Right on Social Media
Sports Highlights Platforms
Snack Sports Delivers Curated Highlights Without Social Media Pressure
Anonymous Messaging Platforms
Shushh Lets Users Send And Receive Messages Completely Anonymously
Digital Habit Trackers
Habby Helps Users Track Goals, Habits, and Daily Journals
Private Sharing Apps
Waffle Helps Friends Share Daily Moments And Stay Connected Authentically
Social Ad Schedulers
Ads Calender Simplifies Scheduling And Managing Social Media Ads
Engagement Timing Insights
DontPostYet Uses Live Analytics To Optimize Social Media Posting Times
Tech-Enhanced Marketing Tools
Sprout Social Has Introduced Upgrades to Its Customer Care Platform
Digital Opinion Platforms
sunnypeaceisland.com Collects Public Feedback on TikTok Policy Issues
AI-Powered Animation Tools
Facebook Adds AI-Powered Animation And Restyle Tools
Digital Screenshot Editors
ShotEdit Provides Frames And Redaction Tools For Social Media Posts
Simplified Social Platforms
Happy Feed Is A Minimalist Twitter Experience With Fewer Distractions
Smart Content Aggregators
Smashing’s Personalized Article Discovery App Helps Users Stay Informed
Creative Media Automation
InstaPhotoAI Generates Custom AI Images And Videos With Flexible Tools
Social Content Platforms
Reel Rabbit Automates Content Creation To Grow App Engagement Organically
Adaptive Notification Systems
YouTube Filters Push Alerts Based on Recent User Engagement
Digital Emotional Support
Compliment Me Offers Users Comfort And Positive Interaction Online
Ready-to-Buy Customer Tools
7eads Identifies Ready-to-Buy Customers on Social Media
Group Challenge Apps
Challenge Friends Lets Users Complete 30-Day Self-Improvement Challenges
Social Workplace Branding Tools
Soshial Helps You Build and Grow a Personal Brand on LinkedIn
Smarter News Consumption
NewsBang Makes Staying Informed Easier And More Interactive
Social Media Account Marketplaces
TinySoko Offers Secure Social Media Transactions with Escrow
Social Diary Platforms
Truuze Social Networking App Blends Personal Journaling With Social Sharing
Social Content Design Tools
Post In Public Transforms Screenshots Into Stylish Shareable Visuals
Social Media Management Tools
Schedpilot Automates Planning And Publishing Across Social Platforms
Content Acceleration Apps
Bupple 2.0 Speeds Up Social Media Creation With Instant Draft Generation
AI-Powered Scam Alerts
Meta Launches Scam Protection Features Across Its Social Platforms
Data-Comparing Social Apps
The Mutually App Matches Users Based on Their Digital Footprint
Social Sharing Tools
Social Plus Expands Your Reach With Shared Posts Across Platforms
Engaging Learning Platforms
Learn Smart and Have Fun with FunButSmart’s Interactive Platform
Social Streamlining Platforms
Statuz Simplifies Social Posting From Your Mac's Menu Bar Instantly
Social Scheduling Tools
Post Dance Social Media Scheduler Publishes Content Across Platforms
Image Cropping Tools
Square Image Converts Any Photo Into Perfect Social Ready Square Formats
Ethical Influencer Programs
TikTok and 4A's Back the Responsible Influence Certification Program
Editable Comment Features
Instagram Adds 15-Minute Comment Editing Option