Every aspect of life as we know it has been affected by the pandemic in some way or the other. However, the social media landscape is perhaps one place that has experienced the most extreme change. Before the pandemic, the online space was growing, but still there were stragglers who didn’t buy into social media connectivity. However, the physical separation necessitated by the pandemic pushed people toward the world of social media.
The Thompson Family has taken to TikTok as influencers, becoming a sought-after family for local community members. Their father, Lee Thompson, became a millionaire at 19 by selling cigarettes, and the family has followed in his steps, pursuing success in different paths of life at a young age. Social media has become a community where individuals and brands shine. The Thompson Family took to TikTok to showcase their creativity, which has empowered them with influence. The family has collaborated with major TikTok influencers such as The D’Amelios, Lil Huddy, and Avani.
Given their success on the social media platform, the family has watched the shifts resulting from the global pandemic take shape on various social media platforms. The first thing the Thompson Family has noted is the change in the way people use social media. In the past, people used social media as a pastime, but it has now become a source of daily news, pandemic updates, shopping, education, and social interactions.
TikTok has significantly changed how the world consumes content, making short videos the most sought-after content format. Gone are the days of long videos, text posts, and images being compelling; people now respond better to short clips and the newest trend of disappearing content, also known as ephemeral content.
According to The Thompson Family, social media has also grown as a marketing tool, at least twice as much as it was before the pandemic. Brands and personalities have shifted their marketing efforts to focus mainly on digital platforms.
On the negative side of things, The Thompson Family says that the pandemic has paved the way for heightened misinformation on social media. With people scared and panicking, online bullying has also become quite rampant amid the pandemic. However, the popular family notes that the positive changes have helped people save their income streams, meaning the positives outweigh but do not excuse the negatives.
The social media landscape has changed in many noticeable ways. The Thompson Family recommends that people should learn how to be flexible and adaptable because trends will keep coming and going.