Considering the humble origins of social media, the May 2017 social media trends show just how different contemporary platforms are from their predecessors. In the early days of social media, the majority of activity consisted of text exchanges — if people included any images at all, it would be a single image to make up their profile picture. Today, image-centric platforms dominate the social media landscape, and that shows in the social media trends for the coming month.
Both Facebook and Snapchat are looking for ways to expand beyond even image sharing alone. Snapchat has created an AR video filter in the style of its beloved and massively popular picture filters, and Facebook recently announced a VR hangout space where virtual avatars can meet and converse.
Top 40 Social Media Trends in May
40
Luxurious Crystal Bodysuits
Rihanna Sported Gucci's Unique Runway Ensemble During Coachella
39
Puppy Proposal Photoshoots
The Sebastian Loves Luna Engagement Album Showcases Canine Love
38
Feline Culinary Photoshoots
Maro the Cosplay Chef Cat Combines Authentic Food and Outfits
37
Retro Tie-Dye Nail Art
Creatives are Testing Out New Ways to Bring the Pattern to Their Fingers
36
Feathered Eyebrow Looks
These Beauty Bloggers Have Artfully Transformed Their Eyebrows
35
Tie-Dye Lip Art
Makeup Artists Have Been Revealing Unique Ways to Get the Festival-Ready Look
34
Alien Social Media Models
Gucci's Alien Instagram Campaign is for the Fall/Winter 2017 Line
33
Foodie Fashion Photography
Kelsey Mcclellan's Series Shows Clothing with Matching Food Products
32
Extravagant Food Crown Portraits
Lauren Hom's Images Creatively Feature Different Food Staples
31
Simplistic Silhouette Art
Flavio Salsano Turns Shadows from Everyday Items into Whimsical Drawings
30
Sensitive Content Filters
Blurred Photos on Instagram Will Warn of Possibly Offensive Content
29
Social Travel Networks
'Nomo FOMO' Enables Social Travel Planning by Detailing Trips
28
Emotion-Based Social Networks
The 'Emotely' Social Network Works to Let Users Share Emotions
27
Dreamy Singer-Inspired Social Filters
The Lana Del Rey Filter on Snapchat Features a Flower Crown
26
Customizable Gift-Giving Kits
'Giftkit' Introduces a Modern Way to Shop for Gift Baskets Online
25
Collaborative Social Media Apps
The 'WeClip' Collaboration Platform Involves Everyone
24
Millennial-Focused Health Platforms
'Corevity' is an Online Health Community to Share Stories
23
Speed-Checking Chatbots
The Infiniti Q60 SpeedBot Instantly Finds Almost Any Car's 0-60 Time
22
Dating App-Inspired Portraits
Jiyeon Kim Created Contemporary Renditions of Tinder Pictures
21
A.I.-Powered Restaurant Finders
The Sure Chatbot Uses Instagram to Make Restaurant Recommendations
20
Interactive Social Cinemas
Cinex Lets You Tweet Live on the Big Screen While Watching a Movie
19
Social AR Geolocation Apps
The 'Grifidi' Social Experience App Creates Location-Based Socializing
18
VR Social Networks
Facebook Spaces Lets You Hang Out with Friends Anywhere in the World
17
Happiness-Sharing Bots
Bbc Earth's Chatbot Shares Personalized Videos for "Real Happiness"
16
Quick College Application Videos
ZeeMee Offers High Schoolers an Alternative Application Method
15
Alluring Voice Analyzers
Skyn's Voice Analysis Bot Rates Voices on Sensuality, Mystery and More
14
Augmented Photography Lenses
Snapchat's 'World Lenses' Adapt to Their Surroundings with AR
13
Social Media Fundraising Features
Facebook is Adding a 'Personal Fundraiser' Function
12
Contextless Video Apps
'Yo Stories' Shares Video from Friends Without Additional Details
11
Crowdsourced Decision Networks
The 'WeeAct' Social Network Enables Users to Make Smart Decisions
10
Social Feed Aggregator Sites
The 'MakersFeed' Social Feed Aggregator Organizes Content Beautifully
9
Augmented Reality Table Lamps
Lampix will Change the Way Users Work and Play
8
Crayon Farewell Tours
The Celebrate Dandelion Campaign Encourages Crayola Fans to Say Goodbye
7
Issue Discussion Networking Apps
The 'Blaze' App Enables Social Voting to Gauge Opinions
6
Communal Video-Watching Apps
The Cabana App Lets Users Watch YouTube With Friends Virtually
5
Chinese Video Content Platforms
Alibaba's Tudou Site has Transformed into a Short Content Platform
4
Customer-Created Taglines
Emerald Nuts' New Tagline, "Yes Good," Was Inspired by a Customer Review
3
Data-Saving Social Apps
'Twitter Lite' Offers Optimized Features for Mobile Users
2
Pinboard Theme Park Planners
Walt Disney World Created Specialized Pinterest Trip-Planning Tools
1
Categorical Social Updates
The New Instagram Update Will Allow Users to Sort Their Saved Posts
Related Ideas
Remixed Fashion Logos
Graphic Designer Reilly Combined Fashion Labels with Restaurants and More
Glamorous eCommerce Flagships
Missguided's New Flagship is the eTailer's First Standalone Store
Meme-Inspired Fashion Ads
Gucci Partners with Viral Meme-Makers for a New Set of Creative Ads
Color-Changing Business Cards
Réka Neszmélyi's Cards Are Constantly Transforming Their Appearance
Luxurious Crystal Bodysuits
Rihanna Sported Gucci's Unique Runway Ensemble During Coachella
Consistently Searching for Creative Ideas
Sr Director of Marketing at IMAGEN Brands, Jenny Straub
Iridescent Butterfly Backpacks
Dolls Kill's Mystic Mini Bag is Accented With Sculptural Wings
Multifunctional Cooking Appliances
The All-Clad Prep & Cook Food Cooking Appliance Does it All
Beachside Bar Activations
'Bomboras' is a Temporary Beachside Bar in Torquay, Australia
Flowery Java Art Pieces
La Fee De Fleur Turns Morning Coffee Into Elegant Floral Arrangements
Latex Sock Stilettos
These Crimson Gucci Heels are Paired with Obscure Flesh-Toned Latex Socks
The Value of Non-Hierarchical Offices
Marketing Director at Ikon Arts Foundation, Linda Mateljan
Supermarket Clothing Pop-Ups
Lidl Opened a Pop-Up Shop in Hamburg for Its New Clothing Collection
Monolithic Corrugated Homes
TakaTina's Tokyo Home is Covered in a Pitch Black Corrugated Facade
Lifelike Felt Pets
Japanese Artist Yomoko888 Creates Incredibly Realistic Dogs and Cats
Search Engine Recruitment Platforms
Google 'Hire' is a New Job Application and Recruitment Tool
Aviation Pioneer Editorials
The Rihanna Harper’s Bazaar Shoot Reflects Amelia Earhart
Selfie GIF Creators
The Giphy Says App Instantly Turns Your Voice and Face into a GIF
Japanese Cartoon-Covered Apparel
ALOYE Teamed Up with Doraemon for an Exclusive BEAMS T Collection
Surreal Cartoon-Integrated Art
'Still Optimistic' is a Project Fronted by Gabrielle Laïla Tittley
Abandoning Routine in the Workplace
VP of Creativity Center at Faber-Castell, Delanie West
Replacement Crayon Campaigns
The Crayola Who's Leaving Countdown Celebrates the Brand's New Color
Paparazzi Proposal Services
Paparazzi Proposals Captures Romantic Engagements with Candid Shots
Playroom-Inspired Cinemas
Cinépolis' Movie Theater for Kids Boasts Playground Equipment
Hexacopter Videography Drones
The Ehang 'Skyway' Hexacopter Drone Offers Enhanced Maneuverability
At-Home Espresso Subscriptions
This Service Helps to Perfect the Art of Making Espresso at Home
Alternately Angled Apartment Balconies
AVA Building Features an Angular Facade
All-Black Designer Fashion Campaigns
The New Gucci Pre-Fall Campaign Featured an All-Black Cast
Makeup-Themed Art Exhibitions
'Colors of Beauty' Features Paintings by Moises Ramirez
Coffee-Flavored Creamers
The Newest COFFEE-MATE Creamer Boasts a Rich Coffee Flavor
Graphic Font-Creating Software
'Art Text 3' is Mac Software That Lets Users Design Fonts
Breaking Out of Fixed Mindsets
Suzanne Zimny, Head of Innovation at Vimto
Premium Snack Cake Confections
The Hostess Bake Shop Lineup Reworks Iconic Treats
Millennial Anti-Aging Cosmetics
'Nia' is a New Skincare Line to Keep Youth Looking Youthful
Inner Thought Process Photography
Chiara Mazzocchi Represents Her Subjects' Personal Battles
Social Media Drones
After Launching Spectacles, Snap is Creating the Snap Drone
Digital 3D Smartphone Microphones
The 'Lolly' Smartphone 3D Mic Upgrades Capabilities Instantly
Color-Changing Videos
Little Mended Hearts' Video for Sick Kids Gets Brighter with Donations
Opulent Co-Branded Eyewear
The Net-a-Porter x Gucci Accessory Range Boasts Bejeweled Styles
Psychedelic Tie-Dye Streetwear
Dover Street Market & Cactus Plant Flea Market Dropped a New Line
Smart Rewards Chatbots
Punchh's AI Chatbot Introduces the Next Generation of Loyalty Programs
Social Media Shopping Tools
'Easytap' Helps Increase Conversion by Incorporating Shopping Links
Dreamy Singer-Inspired Social Filters
The Lana Del Rey Filter on Snapchat Features a Flower Crown
Blockchain Consultancy Platforms
This International Internet Marketplace is for Blockchain Jobs
Travel-Ready 4K Cameras
The Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS70 High-Resolution Camera is Selfie-Ready
Smart Museum Lighting
This Light from Toshiba Intelligently Illuminates Museum Art
Mentor Matchmaking Platforms
'RookieUp' Connects Professionals Together to Share Creative Skills
Arabic Emoji Games
The New Wain Waleed Game Functions as an Extension of the Halla Walla App
Vibrant Boomer Fashion
Greet Moens' journeyofastylist Instagram Account Breaks Style Boundaries
eSports Gaming Stadiums
The MGM Grand Garden Arena is a Large-Scale eSports Venue
Charitable Beach Towels
Sand Cloud Towels Donates 10 Percent of Profits to Preserving Marine Life
Relaxation Sleep Aid Vapes
The NutroVape Inhalable Sleep Aids are a Soothing Way to Get to Bed
Transforming Steam-Powered Cleaners
The Multipurpose Steam Mops Kill 99.99% of Bacteria
Rooftop Landscape Movie Screenings
The Rooftop Cinema Club Merges Film with Beautiful Scenery
Ephemeral Football Games
Anheuser-Busch Brought Back Its 90s 'Bud Bowl' Ad as a Snapchat Game
Reward-Finding Shopping Apps
'Dosh' Finds Cash Back Shopping Opportunities Automatically
Stately Nightclub Concepts
Avenue LA is an Adaptation of the Popular New York City Club
Comic Fan Engagement Portraits
Megan Moura Captures This Comic Book Store Engagement Series
AI Friendship Apps
'Hugging Face' is a Mobile Chat Bot That Offers Companionship
Collaborative Social Media Apps
The 'WeClip' Collaboration Platform Involves Everyone
Shoppable 360-Degree Videos
Ted Baker's 'Keeping Up with the Bakers' Introduces a New Way to Shop
VR Movie Theaters
The IMAX VR Center Recently Opened in Los Angeles
Animated Video Editing Apps
Apple Clips Offers Fun Ways to Enhance Videos for Sharing with Friends
Pop Legend Streetwear
Supreme Will Be Launching a Michael Jackson Collection in the Future
Stylistic Photography Algorithms
Adobe and Cornell's 'Deep Photo Style Transfer' Mimics Images
Online Social Media Spectacles
Snap Spectacles Can Now be Purchased by the General Public
Cartoon Cookie Mascots
MILKMORE's Brand Identity Boasts Adorable Character Illustrations
Judgement-Free Friendship Apps
The 'Amicus' App Aids Users to Naturally Develop Friendships
Social Music Streaming Platforms
'Vibendo' Users Can Make and Share Playlists with Friends or Fans
Crowdsourced Activism Apps
The Resist App Attaches Activist Actions to Distressing News Stories
Steamy Social Media Apps
Pornhub's Trickpics is Branded as "Snapchat for Nudes"
Concept Pub Crawl Beers
These Beer Bottles Were Inspired by the Famous Otley Run
Age-Guessing Photo Apps
Microsoft's New Sprinkles App Aims to Be a Fun Alternative to Snapchat
Safe Painting Robots
Painting and Washing Robot OutBot is for High-Rise Buildings in Singapore
Social Media Job Applications
Facebook Job Postings Now Let Users Apply Through the Platform
Tapestry-Inspired Platforms
The Jeffrey Campbell Candice Heels Feature a Bold Jaquard Print
Family Packing Travel Apps
The Packing Pro App Was Designed To Ease the Process of Travel
Summery Make-Up Applicator Kits
The 'Summer Fling' Beautyblender Kit Includes Two New Colors
Airport-Analyzing Information Apps
The 'Ment' Status App Informs Flyers of Wait Times and More
Teen Fashion Loyalty Programs
Hollister's Club Cali Program Offers Gift Cards for Points
ATM-Replacing Apps
soCash is a Start-Up That Aims to Make ATM Machines Obsolete
Interactive CV Chatbots
Copywriter Elizabeth Nieves Created a Chatbot to Automate Recruitment
People-Powered Activity Bots
The Wilson Weekend Planner Suggests Awesome Events Via SMS
Social AR Geolocation Apps
The 'Grifidi' Social Experience App Creates Location-Based Socializing
Lawmaker-Finding Social Media Services
Facebook Town Hall Makes Contacting Elected Officials Easy
Popstar Fashion Socks
Rihanna's New Fenty Socks Were Made in Collaboration with Stance
Inclusive Tourism Campaigns
The Latest Ad from Tourism Toronto Celebrates the City's Diversity
VR Social Networks
Facebook Spaces Lets You Hang Out with Friends Anywhere in the World
Expansive Alcohol Delivery Apps
'Minibar Delivery' Enables You to Order Alcohol for Quick Delivery
Organizational Reflection Chatbots
'Debrief' Offers a Streamlined Solution to Reflect on Your Week
Happiness-Sharing Bots
Bbc Earth's Chatbot Shares Personalized Videos for "Real Happiness"
Members-Only Travel Services
'The Nomad Walk' Offers Adventure Travel Experiences for Members
Quick College Application Videos
ZeeMee Offers High Schoolers an Alternative Application Method
Real-Life TV Chicken Shops
A Los Pollos Hermanos Pop-up is Heading to L.A. and New York
Autonomous Host Bots
Burner's 'Hostbot' Helps Airbnb Hosts Answer FAQ
Social Media Fundraising Features
Facebook is Adding a 'Personal Fundraiser' Function
Speedy Celebrity Workouts
This Kendall Jenner Workout Only Takes 11 Minutes to Complete at Home
Crowdsourced Decision Networks
The 'WeeAct' Social Network Enables Users to Make Smart Decisions
Social Feed Aggregator Sites
The 'MakersFeed' Social Feed Aggregator Organizes Content Beautifully
DIY Selfie Lights
Adafruit's 3D Printed Project Helps to Enhance One's Phone Photography
Widow Empowerment Clubs
The 'Modern Widows Club' Helps Those Who've Lost Their Partners to Heal
Augmented Reality Table Lamps
Lampix will Change the Way Users Work and Play
Cultivating Creative Ideas
Joe Lamb, Founder of Bouncy Castle London PR
Messenger Payments Platforms
This AI Chatbot Enables Mobile Payments Without Internet Access
Offline Commuter Networks
'Sociocean' is an Offline Social Network for Commuters
Ephemeral Nature Shows
BBC Planet Earth II is Being Shared in Mini-Episodes on Snapchat
Product-Insuring Chatbots
Kevinsured Insures Items Bought on Sharing Economy Sites
AI Sales Messaging Apps
Deepchat Uses Artificial Intelligence and Live Chat to Convert Prospects
Communal Video-Watching Apps
The Cabana App Lets Users Watch YouTube With Friends Virtually
LED Skydiving Campaigns
This Enchanting Red Bull Campaign Shows Flight Patterns Being Tracked
Digital Dating Snapshots
The Lively App Introduced 'Quickies,' or the Snapchat of Dating
Social Media Job Interviews
McDonald's Australia is Accepting 'Snaplications' Through Snapchat
Social Language-Learning Apps
'Polyglot' Enables Foreign Language Learning from Native Speakers
Airport Loyalty Programs
Strata Club is a Travel Loyalty Program Specific to the Auckland Airport
Simplified Quote-Capturing Apps
The Postepic App Lets You Instantly Save a Book's Best Quotes
Autonomous Money-Saving Bots
Trim's Financial Assistant Bot Talks with Service Reps to Lower Bills
Zooming Music Video Apps
The OOO App Gives a Simple Interface for Controlling Smartphone Zoom
Health Incentive Rewards
The Carrot Rewards App Lets Healthy Users Unlock Exclusive Perks
Celebratory Cost-Free Slurpees
This 7-Eleven Giveaway Was Made in Honor of National Sibling Day
Pinboard Theme Park Planners
Walt Disney World Created Specialized Pinterest Trip-Planning Tools