Will social media die, crawl or reinvent itself in the future?

brands online, ahead of Google.This is where the good part ends.Social media is notorious for harming people’s mental health, driving online harassment, disrupting sleep, creating anxiety and accelerating digital addiction. According to Pew research, 48% of American teens say social media harms people their age. India's Economic Survey 2025-26 has flagged the rapid rise of digital addiction and screen-related mental health challenges.

Social media addiction is not restricted to Gen Z alone. In China, one in five people above 60 is addicted to social media, spending over four hours every day, according to research published in PubMed.In the future, four broad themes are likely to play out.The big question is: will social media exist? Absolutely. It is highly unlikely a vehicle with this scale will decay.

Increasingly, Gen Z and other cohorts are focusing on conscious consumption. A study by EY in the UK suggests that 38% of consumers there are keen on a digital detox. Trends like bhajan clubbing as a massive theme among Gen Z shows they are not looking at social media to show off their perfect life anymore, but are seeking meaningful connections and friendships.

Social media is likely to be used for specific niches with very specific intent going forward—education, gaming, spirituality, etc. Low value-add content like ‘get ready with me’ is likely to have a low shelf life going forward.For governments, social media is the next tobacco and alcohol. In Australia, social media accounts for children under 16 years of age are being restricted.