Social media trends are constantly changing and evolving, influenced by different subcultures and communities. If you want to create engaging and relevant content for your audience, you need to understand how to identify and analyze these trends. In this article, you will learn how to use four methods to discover and monitor social media trends in different subcultures.
One of the simplest ways to find out what is trending in a subculture is to follow the hashtags and keywords that they use on social media platforms. Hashtags and keywords are words or phrases that describe a topic, theme, or interest. They help users find and join conversations, share content, and connect with others who share their passion. For example, if you want to know what is trending in the vegan subculture, you can follow hashtags like #vegan, #plantbased, or #vegansofig. You can also use tools like Hashtagify or Keyhole to track the popularity, reach, and sentiment of hashtags and keywords over time.
By following these hashtags and keywords, you can stay up-to-date on the latest trends in different subcultures. But don't just follow the most popular hashtags. Be creative and experiment with different hashtags to see what works best for you.
The changes at Twitter over the last few months have contributed to the fragmentation of several communities. Members opted to follow different paths, & certain groups have divided themselves into several communities hosted in different locations. Many have left to Discord, others to Mastodon, Bluesky or Pebble/T2. Some of my communities evolved into LinkedIn groups. It became very difficult & time-consuming to find trends in different subcultures, even when you use intelligence tools who haven't yet embedded new networks in their systems. It's true that we now have ChatGPT. Finding the good gems was already a challenge with Google search, and it's easy with ChatGPT. Being connected with relevant people has become more important than ever.
Another way to identify social media trends in different subcultures is to join groups and forums where they interact and exchange ideas. Groups and forums are online spaces where users can post questions, opinions, tips, or resources related to a specific topic or interest. They are often moderated by admins or community leaders who set the rules and tone of the discussion. For example, if you want to know what is trending in the gaming subculture, you can join groups or forums like Reddit, Discord, or Facebook Gaming. You can also participate in the conversations, ask questions, or offer feedback to gain insights and build relationships.
Make use of Google Trends to monitor and analyze social media trends in various subcultures. Additionally, set up a Google Alert to stay updated on the latest developments in this area.
A third way to identify social media trends in different subcultures is to follow influencers and leaders who have a large and loyal following within that subculture. Influencers and leaders are users who have established credibility, authority, or popularity in a niche or industry. They often create and share content that showcases their expertise, personality, or lifestyle. They also influence the opinions, behaviors, and preferences of their followers. For example, if you want to know what is trending in the fitness subculture, you can follow influencers or leaders like Kayla Itsines, Joe Wicks, or Chloe Ting. You can also observe how they engage with their audience, what kind of content they produce, and what kind of feedback they receive.
Follow influencers and leaders who have a large number of loyal followers within that subculture. But you must check who the influencer is that you follow and the number of followers he has to ensure reaching the largest possible segment.
A fourth way to identify social media trends in different subcultures is to use trend analysis tools that collect and analyze data from various sources and platforms. Trend analysis tools are software or applications that help you discover, monitor, and measure the performance of social media trends. They can help you identify emerging topics, keywords, hashtags, or content types that are gaining traction in a subculture. They can also help you compare and contrast trends across different subcultures, regions, or time periods. For example, if you want to know what is trending in the travel subculture, you can use trend analysis tools like Google Trends, BuzzSumo, or Sprout Social. You can also customize your search criteria, filters, or alerts to get the most relevant and accurate results.
Choose the right trend analysis tool Be specific with your search criteria Use multiple trend analysis tools Keep up with the latest trends
Analyze demographic data and cultural influence on social media platforms. Different age groups flock to certain platforms while abandoning others. Trends, language, and cultural influence have resulted from these platforms. For example, Twitter has transformed into something political, especially in the past four years with controversy over President Trump’s tweets. It was discovered in 2019 most Twitter users are Democrats and young. Memes and other parts of youth culture tend to surface first on Twitter as posting is relatively accessible with a limited character count for easy tweeting
It's a good idea to use multiple trend analysis tools to get a more comprehensive view of the trends. This will help you avoid relying on a single source of data and ensure that you're getting the most accurate picture of what's trending.
Here are some examples of social media trends in different subcultures: * In the gaming subculture, the latest trends include live streaming, esports, and in-game purchases. * In the fashion subculture, the latest trends include sustainable fashion, genderless fashion, and body positivity. * In the beauty subculture, the latest trends include natural makeup, skincare routines, and hair tutorials. * In the food subculture, the latest trends include plant-based eating, mukbangs, and food challenges. * In the travel subculture, the latest trends include solo travel, affordable travel, and sustainable travel.