The buzz surrounding various social media trends, tools and apps is in constant flux, but there is one thing we can count on in 2020 and beyond: Our experiences on social media, via smartphones and emerging devices, will grow increasingly immersive.
While today’s mobile networks are fast, imagine what users will share with blistering speeds and lower latency. And for businesses aiming to capitalize on the dramatic changes triggered by next-gen networks, the opportunities in social media are vast.
Tyler Gates, managing principal of immersive and interactive content studio Brightline Interactive, has been creating immersive experiences and simulations for 16 years. After working with some of the country’s top brands, Gates has fresh ideas about how next-gen networks and improved bandwidth will level the playing field in technology and drive what’s ahead.
“The onset of 5G really is an enabling technology,” Gates said. “It will enable both mobile devices as well as head-mounted displays for things like VR, AR and MR [virtual, augmented and mixed reality]. It’s going to allow us to experience social media content or information represented in a completely different way.”
In assessing social media today, Gates maintains that the content is mostly static—and experienced primarily via our mobile devices.
“Right now social media largely happens on a two-dimensional screen,” Gates said. “Sometimes with Instagram or Facebook stories, there’s the inclusion or incorporation of video content, but for the most part, social media is driven by the written word.”