The 18th annual Social Media Marketing Industry Report delivers fresh data on platform priorities, video usage, ad placements, and AI adoption for 2026. Marketers can tap insights like the rise in Instagram activity, the dominance of video content, and daily generative‑AI use to sharpen strategies and spot new growth opportunities.
Buffer analyzed 9.6 million Instagram posts (Jan 2024‑Dec 2025) and identified Thursday 9 a.m., Wednesday 12 p.m. and Wednesday 6 p.m. as the top slots for reach. Mid‑week outperforms other days, while evenings boost engagement except on Thursday, and Fridays/Saturdays perform worst.
TikTok Shop says U.S. small businesses (<$15 M revenue) grew sales by 66% in 2025, with over 215,000 sellers, up 25% YoY. A GlobalData survey of 6,000 consumers shows that 67% turn to TikTok Shop for product discovery, and 58% of those discoveries convert to purchases, underscoring the platform’s social‑commerce power.