2025 is already in full swing, and as we’re preparing for the year ahead, we’re also pausing to review our predictions for 2024. Did the year turn out as expected? Here’s a recap of what our team forecast for the future: 

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 The AI Boom Will Require More Guardrails

“This year, I think there will be a continued push for regulations around AI-created materials, similar to copyright regulations and attribution requirements.”

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Verdict: ✅ 

Multiple states have enacted legislation around regulation, transparency and privacy regarding AI usage, setting a precedent for expanded requirements. Social sites like Instagram have implemented ways to mark posts as AI-generated or modified. 

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Thought Leaders Will Shine in the Earned Media Spotlight

“With newsrooms shrinking year over year, contributed content is on the rise.” 

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Verdict: ✅ 

Media outlet layoffs made headlines in 2024, with January alone seeing the loss of almost 500 journalists across publications. Contributed content is now more valuable than ever. 

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The Creator Economy Will Continue to Develop (and so Will Regulatory Concern)

“Brands will be more selective with who they choose to collaborate with—opting for more micro- or nano-influencers over larger creators to get more bang for their buck.” 

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Verdict: ✅ 

One study showed that micro-influencers not only have higher engagement rates than traditional influencers, but that 82% of consumers are highly likely to follow recommendations made by micro-influencers. Learn how to be a better influencer partner with our tips. 

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Social Strategies Will Return to Their Roots

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"More social media managers will shift strategies to focus on platforms that actually yield business results—marketers will prioritize platforms that significantly impact the bottom line.”

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Verdict: ✅ 

Brands are being strategic about what platforms to utilize, choosing where to focus based on the behavior of a platform’s users. Sprout Social shares tips on deciding which are most effective. 

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What Will 2025 Bring? 

We asked the Slide Nine team to share their predictions for 2025. Read on for the trends we expect to see in the near future. 

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“We’ll see a super-charged trend of more micro content communities taking off, as folks depart long-term social channels in lieu of platforms that better speak to their world views, while seeking out podcasts and other creators. Brands will have to continue to work hard to reach their target audiences where they are as the ecosystem segments further.” 

— Chris Piedmont, Associate Vice President, Communications and Insights

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“Companies will increasingly turn to their employees as brand ambassadors. Authentic voices from inside an organization will help drive trust and engagement, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, where employee-led content often outperforms paid or branded posts.”

– Gillian Janicki, Senior Account Executive

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“As AI-generated visual content becomes more mainstream, design trends are going to swing back in favor of analog, hand-created elements. When it’s easy to create things that all look the same, the designs that will stand out the most will be those that let the humanity and skill of their creators shine through.” 

— Wesleigh Mowry, Senior Design and Content Strategist 

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