Socializing has been around for millennia (longer if one includes animal socialization) and media has been around for hundreds of years, but social media has been around for hardly more than a decade — nonetheless, the advanced October 2017 social media trends make it seem as though the young form of communication has been around for eons.
Indeed, social media is so influential that it has begun to permeate even traditional media landscapes. Elle, the old and venerable magazine, has recently designed a cover for its Russian edition to look like an Instagram post, with tags printed onto the cover and the familiar Instagram post banner along the bottom.
Social media platforms themselves have gotten more complex as well, with new features that help them to stand out in an increasingly crowded environment. Snapchat, for example, has implemented Bitmoji into its posts through the use of AR, turning the Bitmoji into 3D avatars that react to the real-world environment.
Top 45 Social Media Trends in October
From GIF-Printing Polaroid Cameras to Gen Z Cosmetics Stores:
Joey Haar — Oct 29, 2017 — Social Media
45
Mini Social Media Cameras
The Conceptual Snapchat 'Snapshot' Offers Impressive Functionalities
44
Gen Z Cosmetic Stores
'Riley Rose' is Forever21's Newest Conceptual Beauty Store
43
Daring Celebrity Runway Shows
Rihanna's Fenty X Puma Show Featured Motorbikes and Pink Mountains
42
Corporate Motif Weaponry
Tom Galle's Artistic Designs are Inspired by Iconic Company Logos
41
Repurposed Popstar Streetwear
H&M Will Retail Justin Bieber's Leftover Stadium Merchandise
40
Party-Inspired Outdoor Runways
Alexander Wang's Spring 2018 Collection Shut Down a Bushwick Street
39
Vlogger-Created Fashion Lines
YouTuber Jenn Im Launched an Affordable Clothing Collection
38
Social Media-Style Magazine Covers
This Elle Russia October Cover is Styled Like an Instagram Post
37
Connectivity-Boosting Power Banks
The Skyroam Solis Offers a 4G LTE Hotspot and a Power Bank
36
Psychedelic 90s-Inspired Sneakers
Lisa Frank is Only Making Two Pairs of These Colorful Reeboks
35
Thought-Provoking Conversation Apps
'Party Qs' Helps You to Become the Most Interesting Partygoer
34
Social Media-Inspired Signage
'Signs of the Times' Introduces Internet-Like Suggestions Offline
33
Predictive Social Media Aids
'LikelyAI' Will Predict the Popularity of Your Instagram Posts
32
Chromatic Cobbed Corn
Mason's Den's Colorful Cobs Turn Elotes Bright
31
Awkward Swan Pool Floats
The 'Ridiculous Inflatable Swan-Thing' is Adorably Unattractive
30
Automated Social Marketing Services
Startup Foll. Provides Smart Twitter Automation and Marketing
29
Livestreamed Entrepreneurial Pitches
'LOI: Live Pitch' Is an Exclusive Program for Facebook Watch
28
Personalized AR Cartoons
Bitmoji on Snapchat Can Now Be Manipulated in Augmented Reality
27
Intimate Social Card Games
'You Think You Know Me' Challenges Perceptions of Friendships
26
POV Drive-Thru Ads
This Burger King Advertisement Was Shot Entirely on Snapchat Spectacles
25
Spiced Latte Livestreams
The Arrival of the Seasonal Starbucks PSL is Being Teased with Live Video
24
GIF-Printing Polaroid Cameras
Abhishek Singh's 'InstaGif' DIY Polaroid Camera Prints Short Videos
23
Cookie-Flavored Iced Coffees
Dunkin' Donuts is Asking Fans to Vote on New Iced Coffee Flavors
22
Emotive Weather Filters
These Instagram Face Filters Use the Weather to Reflect One's Mood
21
Face-Tracking Emoticon Features
iOS 11 Will Let You Send Face Expression-Based 3D Animated Emoji
20
Crowdsourced Decision-Making Apps
'Deemr' Lets Users Provide Input on Others' Decisions
19
Star-Studded AR Magazines
W Magazine Utilizes AR to Bring Katy Perry's Image to Life
18
Social Media Sports Shows
#NFLBlitz is a Football Talk Show Airing Exclusively on Twitter
17
Mature Beauty Vloggers
'Korea Grandma' is a 71-Year-Old YouTube Sensation Who Shares Beauty Tips
16
Social Media Aggregation Apps
'Thread Reader' Collects Tweetstorms Into a Single Page
15
Drag-and-Drop Shopping Apps
'Thinkover' Makes It Easy for Users to Save and Purchase Items on Sale
14
Virtual City Scavenger Hunts
Volkswagen’s Rule the Road Campaign Engages Instagram Users
13
Auto-Swiping Dating App Devices
The 'Tinda Finger' Swipes Right on Over 6,000 Profiles an Hour
12
Social Media-Based TV Series
'Humans of New York' Will Be Turned into a 12-Part Docuseries
11
Multigenerational Telecommunication Ads
Vodafone India Released an Emotional Ad for Fathers Day
10
R&B Legend-Inspired Cosmetics
The New MAC Aaliyah Collection Was Pushed by an Online Petition
9
Group Video Chat Apps
Facebook's Standalone Bonfire App Also Has Special Effects Features
8
Intrusive Response-Prompting Apps
ReplyASAP Triggers an Alarm to Prevent Ignored Text Messages
7
Connected Sports-Viewing Glasses
Snapchat Will Be Dispensing Its Spectacles at the 2017 US Open
6
College Football Stickers
Rivalry Stickers Turn College Mascots Into Cute Graphics for Text Chats
5
Invisible Promotional Films
'Invisible World' is a Two-Hour Production from Old Spice
4
115-Degree Supermarket Ads
This 10-Second Sainsbury's Ad Was Shot with Snapchat Spectacles
3
Anticipatory Seasonal Beverage Trackers
This Website Will Reveal When It's PSL Season
2
Facial-Recognition Social Sites
'Polygram' Registers and Records Users' Facial Reactions
1
Streaming Alert Apps
'Stream Time' Helps Users Keep Tabs on Upcoming Live Videos
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
Video-Editing App Updates
Google Photos Launches a Slew of New Video Editing Tools
Phone-Free Crafting Experiences
Pinterest Brought a Phone-Free Experience to the Desert
Positive Social Media Campaigns
The New Tumblr Campaign Champions Community Over Controversy
Gen-Z-Focused AR Campaigns
American Eagle Launched an AE Jeans Try-on Haul Lens
Digital Makeup Zines
MAC Cosmetics is Reviving MACzine, Digitally, for a New Generation
Creative Online Social Networks
BuzzFeed Introduces the New BF Island Social Network
Social Media-Inspired Retail Apps
Depop Outfits Lets Users Create Moodboards and Collages
AR-Powered Vending Machines
Snapchat and L’Oréal Made a Gamified Lens to Share Refillable Haircare
Beauty Hack-Inspired Campaigns
Vaseline Launched 'Vaseline World' Based on Social Media Content
Pet-Powered Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Cosmetics' Animal Intelligence Redefines "AI"
Authentic Connection Campaigns
Heineken's Hijack Socialization Encourages Out-of-Home Gatherings
Real-Life Mood-Board Transformations
Pinterest Launches the 'Bring My Pinterest to Life' Series
Feedless Social Platforms
Bond Eliminates Feeds to Focus on Real-Life Experiences
Digital Twin Models
H&M is Working with Models & Agencies to Replicate Virtual Likenesses
Shareable Wishlist Templates
Urban Outfitters and Canva Partnered to Simplify Holiday Gifting
Playful Gen-Z Dating Campaigns
Tinder's 'Crush Feelings' Captures the Essence of Modern Dating
Interactive AR Avocado Scans
Chipotle Launches its 'AvoLotto Lens' on Snapchat
Decentralized Social Apps
Pixelfed Introduces Dedicated Mobile Apps for iOS and Android Users
Social AI Video Lenses
Snapchat Brings Photo-To-Video AI to Lens Studio
Interactive AR Storefronts
Spotselfie AR Meta Stores Tie Real-World Places to Virtual Storefronts
Immersive Video Shopping Experiences
ASOS Live Blends Creator-Led Content with Real-Time Shopping
AI-Powered Social AR Apps
The Snap Lens Studio Lets Any User Create Their Own Effects
Cross-Industry Insight Networks
The Think Party Explores the Future of Socialization
Cross-Platform Aggregator Apps
Flipboard Surf Aggregates Social Media, And More For Browsing
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
Outfit Transformation Apps
Drippi Lets You Transform Friends' Outfits with Simple Photo Edits.
Influencer-Driven Fashion Events
Pacsun Collaborated with Prominent Gen-Z Creators
Nostalgic Camera Designs
Polaroid Debuts the Polaroid Now and Now+ Generation 3
AI Video Insights
Sora Creators Curates Trending AI-Generated Videos from Twitter in Real-Time
Imaginative Fantasy-Inspired Campaigns
Canva Spotlights its Creative Tools Ahead of Halloween
Social Media Managers
Socialaize Automates Scheduling Cross-Posting And Performance Tracking
Shoppable AR Villages
The Snapchat Winter Village Has Three Immersive Luxury Brand Boutiques
Analog-Themed Camera Campaigns
Polaroid Launched 'The Camera for an Analog Life'
GenAI Social Media Lenses
The Imagine Lens Lets Snapchat Users Type to Bring Ideas to Life
Self-Expression Festival Activations
Barbie Brings Customizable Persona-Building to Coachella
Snapchat Super Bowl Filters
The NFL x Snapchat Creator Program Debuts Ahead of the Big Game
Vintage Photo Makers
Retrova Transforms Digital Photos Into Custom Vintage-Style Polaroids
Anti-Digital Social Campaigns
Heineken Partners with Joe Jonas for 'Socials Off Socials'
AI Kids Coloring Pages
Retro Launches Splat To Turn Family Photos Into Art
Comprehensive Fast Food Reports
Yum! Brands, Inc. Explores Food Trends Influencing the Industry
Fun-Centered Social Platforms
BuzzFeed Island Makes Internet Experiences Joyful & Quirky Again
College-Focused Social Platforms
TikTok's Campus Verification Feature Mirrors Early Facebook
Social Commerce Integrations
Ulta Beauty Launches a Creator-Driven TikTok Shop
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Social Media Enhancers
Caption Generator Provides Custom Captions, Hashtags, and Music Suggestions
Digital Well-Being Updates
Tiktok Adds Mindfulness Tools and User Controls Over Ai Content
Transformative Social Media Platforms
WeAre8 is Designed to Prioritize Users Over Algorithms
Social Media Meditation Features
The TikTok Meditation Feature Helps Users Take a Break
Redefining Screen-Free Cameras
Camp Snap Arrives at Target as a Mindful Disconnection
Social Media Backup Platforms
SocialSafe™ Serves Content Creators and Fans
Anti-Algorithm Social Platforms
Buzzfeed’s Branch Office Creates Interactive AI-Powered Apps
Social Content Creators
SmilesFlow Lets You Create Unique, Interactive Content for Sharing
Ephemeral Photo-Sharing Apps
Instagram Instants App Introduces Single-View 24-Hour Photos
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
Scrolling Video-Based Social Medias
Bluesky Launched a New 'Trending Videos' Feature
Authentic Skincare Campaigns
We are Social France Spotlights Avène’s New Anti-Blemish Cream
AI-Enabled Photo App Updates
Google Photos Brings Artificial Intelligence to the Application
AI-Powered Social Media Lenses
Snap Announced AI Video Lenses for Snapchat Platinum Subscribers
Easy-to-Use Content Editing Apps
Meta Launched 'Edits' for Instagram Creators on Mobile Devices
Localized Retail Media Platforms
Snappy Shopper Launches Connect, a Retail Media Network
Single-View Photo Apps
Instagram Instants is a Standalone App Where Photos Vanish After 24 Hours
GenAI Makeup Marketing
MAC Cosmetics is Tapping into the Power of Adobe Firefly Services
Offline Dating Experiences
Beyond Debuts Social Club Prioritizing In Person Connections
Shoppable Reel Features
Meta Expands Reels with Product Tagging on Instagram and Facebook
Creativity-Celebrating Social Media Awards
The Instagram Rings Award Honors Exemplary Creators
Content Creation Tools
AI Social Media Post Generator Creates Platform-Ready Content Fast
Social Shopping Integrations
The MONAT Tiktok Shop Strengthens the Direct Sales Business Model
Customized Restaurant Campaign Platforms
OpenTable Has Launched OpenTable Media
AI-Created Video Feeds
Meta Introduces Vibes as a Social Platform Driven by AI-Generated Posts
Curated Resale Storefronts
eBay's The NYC Edit Storefront Shares Tastemaker Selections
Virtual Influencer Creators
Optodolce Enables Easy Creation of Virtual Influencers for Marketing
Unified Social Management
Social Champ Simplifies Multi-Platform Posting & Analytics For Agencies
Social Media Hubs
Unified Socials Centralizes Management Across Multiple Platforms
Introvert-Friendly Social Platforms
The 'Introvrs' Social App Connects Like-Minded Users
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
Social Video Beauty Brands
Time Inc. Unveils 'The Pretty' Social Video-Based Beauty Brand
Custom Comment Creators
Instagram Comment Generator Lets You Design Personalized TikTok Replies
Interactive Content Sharing
STIK App Lets Users Publish Content Directly On Physical Products
Cover Image Generators
Cover Photo Generators Create Social Media Headers From Text
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
Mascot-Forward Newspaper Campaigns
Ellie the Elephant Becomes a New York Times Subscriber
Social Media-Inspired Streaming Apps
The Netflix App Feed Will Introduce a TikTok-Like Style
AI-Assisted Messaging
WhatsApp Introduces AI Writing Help and Photo Editing Features
Real-Time Social Chats
Threads introduces live group chats around major cultural events
In-Store Creator Commerce
Mac Cosmetics Turns Retail Employees into Live-Streaming Creators
Mood Tracker Tools
OEmoji allows users to track and share their moods directly with friends.
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
Nostalgic Beauty Campaigns
Dove's #UnseenBeauty Initiative Challenges Y2K Beauty Standards
Social Content Generator
Coso.ai Creates and Approves Weekly Social Content in Minutes
Social Media Creator Initiatives
Snapchat Launches its Gen Z-Focused Creator Connect Service
Social Copy Optimizers
TweetFast Turns Ideas Into Viral Tweets With AI-Powered Suggestions
Niche Club Apps
Phictly Connects Fans of Books, Movies & Shows in Small, Engaged Groups
Creator-Focused All-In-One Platforms
MediaClub.app Serves Creators in the Middle East
Interactive Streaming Ads
Spotify Turns Listening into Engagement with Carousel Ads
Social Media Organizers
Gem Turns TikTok and Instagram Bookmarks Into Searchable Lists
Friend-Finding Virtual Hangouts
Strangely Matches Similar Personalities for Live Video Chats
Local Story Creators
Word oh Mouth Lets Users Share Experiences And Support Local Businesses
Real-Time Nightlife Finders
HotSpot Discovers Trending Nightlife Spots With Real-Time Insights
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
Custom Social Platforms
Nightlight Offers Inclusive And Highly Custom Social Media Experiences
Performance-Based Creator Platforms
Picsart Earn Program Pays Creators Based on Engagement
Digital Dependency Awareness Campaigns
Trapped by the Screen Uncovers Hidden Costs of Screen Time
Digital Storytelling Platforms
Times Of My Life Captures & Produces Personal Stories In Any Format
Social Image Comparisons
Compare AI Enables AI-Powered Photo Comparisons And Social Ranking
Creative Photo Communities
Join the Ad-Free Creative Photo Network Built Into Hipstamatic
Layered Online Content Reports
YouTube Defines Creative Maximalism as the Key Point After 20 Years
Emoji Party Games
Speedmoji Turns Emoji Texting Into A Fast-Paced Group Game For All
Fake Conversation Generators
ReplyShort Creates Realistic Fake Conversations for Social Media
90s Grunge-Inspired Fall Apparel
& Other Stories Launches 'The October Collection'
Paired-Down Social Media Platforms
Month Friend Boasts a New Experience in the Hyper-Digital World
Visual Chat Platforms
PicNow! Enables Users to Share Photos and Chat With Strangers
Teen Content Filters
Instagram Expands Age-Rated Experiences with Stricter Parental Controls
Influencer Discovery Assistants
SocialiQ 2.0 Automates Influencer Research Right on Social Media
B2B Social Intelligence
Octolens Tracks Brand Mentions and Keywords With B2B-Focused AI
Entertainment Tracker Apps
Flickd Lets Users Track, Discuss, and Get Recommendations on Media
Private Photo Journals
Memory Helps You Capture Daily Moments In A Secure And Simple Photo Diary
Private Sharing Apps
Waffle Helps Friends Share Daily Moments And Stay Connected Authentically
Tech-Enhanced Marketing Tools
Sprout Social Has Introduced Upgrades to Its Customer Care Platform
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
Creative Media Automation
InstaPhotoAI Generates Custom AI Images And Videos With Flexible Tools
Video Repurposing Tools
Video To Social Converts Videos Into Optimized Content For Social Media
Visual Timelapse Apps
SelfieStory Creates Seamless Timelapse Memories From Daily Photos
Life Event Portfolios
Build and Share Life’s Key Moments With Milestones’ Curated Event Portfolio
Social Media Account Marketplaces
TinySoko Offers Secure Social Media Transactions with Escrow
AI-Powered Scam Alerts
Meta Launches Scam Protection Features Across Its Social Platforms
Social Sharing Tools
Social Plus Expands Your Reach With Shared Posts Across Platforms
AI-Powered Facial Touch-Ups
Google Rolls Out a Photos Touch-Up Feature for Easy Image Tweaks
Distinctive Asia-Focused Platforms
Feature.Asia Notes Asia's Professional & Cultural Innovators
Digital Postcard Platforms
Yup Lets You Create And Send Personalized Digital Postcards In Seconds