Social media is the modern Wild West of algorithm changes, trends & existential crises. Understanding which social media platforms are absolutely thriving (or barely surviving) is key to knowing which platform is best suited for your content heading into 2025. 👇
2024 Recap: Social Media Platforms News & Changes That May Impact Your Brand
So, what’s the state of social media at the end of 2024?
We’re kidding! Kinda. 😅
In case you missed it, here are the big events that happened this year that have affected social media platforms:
Bluesky now has almost 25 million users 🦋
Millions of users flocked to Bluesky after the US Election, looking for an alternative to 𝕏 (formerly Twitter). People hail Bluesky as a refuge, where its old-school Twitter style of being able to choose what content you see, being able to actually block people, & no fancy premium subscription shoving its discount in your face every five minutes is a nostalgic blast from the past.
On Bluesky, conversations are ripe & connections are authentic, & creativity is blooming. You can also find us on Bluesky, so go ahead & drop us a follow! We won’t bite (maybe). 🌵
𝕏’s changes prompt users to leave & Elon tries to sue brands for not advertising
𝕏 has made some controversial changes this year that have questioned the loyalty of its users, such as allowing users you’ve blocked to see your content still & not cracking down on the army of bots in your comments & DMs. These reasons, on top of growing misinformation, far-right activism & Elon Musk trying to sue brands that didn’t advertise anymore, were enough for users to flee 𝕏, but the cherry on top was Elon Musk, the owner of 𝕏, endorsing Donald Trump in the US Election, as seen by the millions of new users joining Bluesky above.
TikTok faces being banned in the US ❌
The deadline is looming for TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, to sell to a US company or face being banned in the US after concerns about safety & security. TikTok has around 1 billion users, with over 150 million users in the US. The impact of the TikTok ban could mean a swift end for many creators & brands that rely on TikTok as a discovery platform for their content, products & services.
Meta begins using AI in more features across its platforms 🤖
AI is becoming even more prominent across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp & Threads, from creating profile pictures, talking to chatbots, creating ads, & image generation; we could go on, but we’d be here all day. With more AI comes more regulations, & actually, more negative feedback. We hear you on the lack of creativity & human personality that AI brings. Just be aware of what you’re engaging with, & support the creators you want to support 👊
YouTube is focusing even more on creators & content 🎨
YouTube has introduced many changes that benefit creators, which makes sense, as without creators, they wouldn’t have a platform. Initiatives like BrandConnect, a new way for creators & brands to connect for partnerships, the launch of Jewels for communities to gift to creators during vertical live streams, & the QOL updates to streaming & YouTube Shorts ensure that YouTube stays at the forefront of your mind, no matter the format of content you’re looking to create.
With the big social platforms wrapped up for this year, let’s have a look at what 2025 may bring 👇
So, how do you choose the right social media platform for your gaming brand in 2025?
If only the hard work were done during commercial breaks. You are gonna have to put in some work on your own social media strategy to find the best social media platform for your gaming brand. First things first, though: everyone’s brands, goals & target audiences are different. We’re not telling you to jump ship on a platform that currently works for you just because it worked for Jimmy down the road, BUT there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all. Let’s dive on in 🤿
Should you focus on long-form content or short-form content in 2025?
There’s no right answer for finding the best platforms for gaming content. Long-form content & short-form content both have their pros & cons, & you need to ask yourself if the algorithm on the platforms you’re on or looking to move to favours one form of content over the other:
🎥 Without a doubt, YouTube & Twitch are your best bets for long-form video content. Behind-the-scenes, walkthroughs/playthroughs, & having deeper & longer conversations are ideal on these platforms.
🗣️ We’d suggest Bluesky, Threads, Discord & Reddit for conversational content, & going the extra mile to engage with your community & find out what really matters to them so your content can resonate even further.
✍️ Discord, Reddit & Steam are also great for long-form written content, where you can share updates, patches, blogs & any other exciting news announcements with your community. We can’t emphasise enough if you’re looking to build your community, creating spaces for feedback & conversations is so important to nurture trust & a sense of belonging. Check out how we can help you with that 🌵
🌍 𝕏 & Facebook are great all-rounders, with these platforms making it easier to find success with short-form content & long-form content to leave a lasting impression. But whether you want to stay on 𝕏 or find your community on other platforms is entirely up to you.
📱 If the TikTok ban goes ahead, then Instagram & YouTube Shorts are Winner Winner Chicken Dinners for short-form video gaming content. Most platforms seem to be accommodating & favouring short-form video content these days, & the proof is in the pudding with how we helped grow Lightyear Frontier’s audience with short-form storytelling content. Overall, stay on TikTok for now, but start building up your audiences on Instagram & YouTube Shorts, just in case 😅
📝 LinkedIn has become much more social & fun this year, with memes & short-form video content making a strong appearance. You just can’t beat its long-form written content, though, with LinkedIn strongly taking the crown. 👑
“But what about Snapchat, BeReal, WhatsApp, Pinterest, or every other social media platform? 😱”
Honestly, it depends on what kind of content you’re creating, what your goals are & where your community actually is. These big-boy social media platforms are where we’ve seen the most success, but that doesn’t mean the same for you. Own your shit & be confident on what platforms you’re on 💪
TLDR:
👉 Social media platforms are ever-changing. Keep in the know & be adaptable.
👉 Short-form video content sky-rocketed in popularity this year, with even LinkedIn joining in, but long-form written content can provide so much value that your community can live, laugh & learn from.
👉 Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, but don’t spread your butter too thin, either. Keep it realistic & be active on platforms where you know where your audience is, where your content will perform best & where you can keep it consistent.
That wraps up our blog on the best social media platforms for 2025! Hopefully, this has helped you navigate the murky waters of what content to post & what social media platforms are going to thrive in 2025, but if you’re interested in elevating your gaming social media strategy, content creation or community management further, then let’s chat 😍
