The old has to always give way to the new. Social media trends too fall into this category, as they capture our attention for a short while and, once the mystique wears off, vanish into the dustbin of digital history. It has been a norm since the beginning of time.

All things, good & bad, come to an end one day, with change being the only constant in our lives. Social media is a 21st century phenomenon that has become part and parcel of our lives in a big way, its positive and negative impact notwithstanding.

Social media trends keep changing from time to time in the past 20 years or so, and while the new ones are quite popular, could it be that the old trends have gone out of fashion? This calls for a stroll down memory lane where we’ll look at some trends that still hold up in 2024.

List of Social Media Trends that Hold Up

Social media trends are much more than a popular pastime and can also be used for enhancing social connections and creating awareness among the masses. While some trends may not hold up today, here are some that continue to hold up even now.

100 Days of Happiness: Practice Gratitude for Better Peace of Mind

It is a very interesting challenge that was quite a rage around a decade ago that continues to be practiced to this day. The participants have to post about one thing per day that they love and that gives them a sense of satisfaction for each of the 100 days.

A challenge that fostered positivity and gratitude, 100 days of happiness disproves the more harsh realities of social media. People with mental health issues can definitely try out this challenge, especially since the focus on your psychological well-being is so prominent on social media platforms nowadays.

We have modern adaptations of the challenge like “30 Days of Mental Wellness” and “60 Days of Gratitude.” There are support groups on platforms like Instagram and TikTok that promote this challenge to go with the wellness movement in the present day where people can prioritize their mental well-being in small, relatable ways.

Throwback Thursday (#TBT): Nostalgia Unlimited

It is impossible not to mention this challenge when it comes to social media trends, given its popularity. It is a weekly practice that provides a necessary dose of nostalgia where people post pictures and content from their past every Thursday.

The digital era encourages authentic personal life stories, which is why Throwback Thursday holds up even today. People regularly post their own stories on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok (now banned in India) that get positive responses and help in creating a positive wave of emotional availability on social media that promotes interaction with unknown people and creates everlasting bonds.

Ice Bucket Challenge: Viral Revisit

This one began in 2014 and started out as a simple viral trend on social media where people would encourage their friends, relatives, and office acquaintances to take up the challenge of dumping ice water over their heads while donating plenty to charities, with celebrities too following suit on this trend.

Within a span of two months, it raised more than $120 million for ALS research, which soon acquired a life of its own in a short while. The ice bucket challenge gained many admirers amongst celebrities and common folks and set a new benchmark for social media trends.

In this age of cause-based activism, the ice bucket challenge continues to be relevant even now, although its main audience generally consists of the millennial brigade that was privy to its inception during the early 2010s.

In order to become relevant with Gen Z, it needs to incorporate a modern twist—like, for example, interactive filters and donation links that make participating in the challenge a lot easier without compromising on its core message.

User-Generated Content

Those planning to make a career on social media need to reach out to their target audience on different platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, among others. Even popular brands engage with their audience on a personal level for cementing their trust via authentic user experiences and testimonials.

Another example of relevant social media trends is user-generated content (UGC), which started out with people simply sharing photos online and slowly metamorphosed into a popular brand strategy in the form of Instagram stories and reels, Facebook challenges, and Twitter hashtags, thereby paving the way for more interactions and customer feedback on trends and products.

Fitness Challenges

Save the best for last; health & fitness challenges are trends that acquired a whole new life of their own on social media platforms. It is the go-to place for fitness & wellness trends, right from rigorous weightlifting to weight-loss cardio exercises to meditation practices.

This is one that is arguably the most relevant among all social media trends, as even today you come across motivational fitness challenges and mental health discussions by celebrities, influencers, and common people on numerous online platforms in the form of posts, stories, and reels, all of which get their fair share of likes, shares, and comments.

Conclusion

Rather than using social media as a mere tool of entertainment where you get temporary satisfaction with a dose of dopamine hormones, it would be better to utilize it for your and others’ benefits. The above trends can be given a modern makeover to relate to the present generation, including live streaming, AU filters, and a massive global outreach that was absent a few years back.

Also read: Simple Daily Habits to Change Your Life