Social Media Study 2026: Trends, Real Data and Formats That Work

What is actually happening on social media right now? Which platforms grew this year? Where do people interact the most? What formats grab attention?

Social platforms move fast, but data always reveals the truth.

In our Social Media Study 2026, we reviewed more than 39 million posts from over a million real accounts. This report contains hundreds of pages that show what brands, businesses, and creators actually did on each platform over the past year.

What’s inside

A clear snapshot of today’s social landscape, broken down platform by platform. You’ll find year-over-year comparisons by account size and content type.

From the rise of Threads to how video behaves on Facebook, the drop in Instagram reach, and the growing role of Google Business Profile, this report helps you understand what works, what doesn’t, and where your brand or business might have room to grow.

You’ll also find insights from creators and industry professionals who share their own experiences about what is shifting on social media and what continues to stay the same.

“My prediction for 2026 is that we will see a strong shift toward slower social media. More long-form videos on YouTube, a return to blogging, and a rise in creators who offer calm. After five years of short, fast videos and a wave of AI-generated content, people are looking for a more human rhythm and authentic storytelling.”

Latasha James

Content creator (228K YouTube subscribers)

Curious about the best platform to grow in 2026?

Or which formats are driving the most interaction? Or the best times to post on each network? Download the full report for free and dive into real data that can guide your next steps.