As a Photo & Video Experience agency, Instagram plays an integral role in how we engage with our audience. Instagram offers an interactive platform for users to share, be inspired by and engage with content; as well as stay up to date with our latest features, products and events. It’s also a great way to connect with other brands, companies and creatives.
Here are the top 5 Instagram trends we have come across for 2020.
Hidden likes
You may have noticed Instagram’s trial last year, but it’s looking like a controversial permanent fixture for 2020. Likes on Instagram have become a vanity metric for many; it has led to less posting as people only save their best content for their feed. Due to mental health concerns, particularly amongst teens, Instagram will be hiding likes to encourage people to post authentic content which takes the pressure off and creates a healthier experience.
Authenticity
Content appears to be moving away from carefully curated imagery and is instead heading towards more relatable and less-produced content. People are seeking authenticity; with a rise in behind the scenes footage on IGTV, 3‑second videos rather than photos and content promoting body positivity (check out i‑weigh, founded by Jameela Jamil). The Instagram world has had enough of saturated content and is instead seeking natural visuals without heavy editing.
GIPHY Stickers
It’s time for standard emojis to take a seat – now, you can be the emoji by creating your own GIPHY stickers for Instagram stories. At Flashmat, we’ve been busy creating our own GIPHY stickers (type in Flashmat on the GIF tab on Stories to enjoy ours). Stickers add fun and have no expiry date, which means users are left with a long-lasting experience they can keep enjoying each time they use Social Media. We can also add branding, logos, animations and users’ names to the GIFs for full customisation.
Video
2020 will be another year of video, with 500 million people using Instagram Stories every day. Users are even importing content from other platforms like TikTok and are engaging more with phone based video editor apps to keep their content fresh. The video content we create is striking, fun and easy to share – check out the interactive Doodle Sketch Booth at D&AD Festival, and our dazzling Cartier video shoot at the New Bond Street Store.
AR filters on Stories
Augmented Reality filters bring 3D effects to life through Instagram Stories; they are fun, easy to use and can even be branded with your company logo – making you stand out from the crowd. In 2019, Instagram made it possible for artists and brands to create their own AR filters via the Spark AR program, encouraging people’s imaginations to run free and transform the world around them. (P.S. watch this space for exclusive Flashmat AR filters!)
So there you have it, our top 5 Instagram trends for 2020 – with authenticity leading the way; favouring video content with fresh effects, and personalised GIPHY Stickers where you can be the emoji.
Follow us on Instagram to see what we’re up to.
