How will we use social media in 2025, and how will it affect us? It is of course very different. For us personally, social media play a relatively important role, and are thus a source of both joy and irritation. Today we share some reflections...
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Some reflections on social media in 2025
Here are some thoughts from recent social media use. Feel free to share your thoughts or experiences in a comment! By the way, our name is @freedomtravelnews on social media and you can find us at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. On LinkedIn we are called FREEDOMtravel.se.
1. Digital fatigue is spreading
Many people we talk to say they are "tired of Instagram" or "tired of Facebook". Others simply find that they get tired of spending too much time in front of the screen - and try to find new habits to put down mobile phone a little more often.
Even we can feel this fatigue sometimes, especially when it comes to social media. The novelty wore off a decade or so ago, and now people have found new ways to engage with social media. I like both Facebook and Instgram and use the platforms every day, but I can also get tired and annoyed by different things...
2. In the clutches of algorithms
One of the things that can be annoying about social media is that it feels like you are "in the clutches of the algorithms". Personally, I find that I don't get to see what I want to see when I scroll through Facebook - just a lot of other stuff.
Sometimes I try to "talk to the algorithms" by ticking off things I don't want to see and hitting the like button on things I want to see more of. But then I find I'm back to square one again, with a bunch of adverts for American celebrities or baby clothes, or something else I'm not interested in...
Similarly, we may feel the same when sharing content. Instead of just thinking about what we want to convey, we also need to think about what the algorithms will think of this.
A few months ago we got into a bad loop when Facebook shut down our posts because "they were against their policy" (unclear which one - there was a post about a city walk and one about Austrian food) - and after that we had to ask friends for advice and then appease the algorithms for a few weeks...
3. What is real in this AI world?
Another thing that has entered the world of social media is AI, or Artificial Intelligence. Suddenly, the feed is flooded with images and films that are reminiscent of the real world, but created in the world of computers.
In the past, I sometimes liked to watch cute animal films (both domestic and wild animals can be so funny sometimes), but now that you don't know if the animals are real or AI products, it suddenly feels a bit more boring ... Was it really a seal that did that funny manoeuvre, or did someone just make it up? No, then I get bored ...
I think AI images can be ok (and use it myself to a limited extent) but I would like it to be labelled so I know what is what.
4. it is important to keep up
As people are getting a bit bored with social media, platforms are constantly having to come up with new things to keep people interested - and it's important to keep up! Just recently, Instagram changed the format of photos shown in the grid - from square to portrait 4:5.
Many people like this, and we will also have to adapt, but initially it was mostly a shock ... For example, we have a pinned picture at the top that introduces us, and there we have chosen a picture where you see the motorhome and both of us. A bit nice, we thought. After the Instagram update, Peter was cut out of the picture and I was beheaded ... You have to keep up!
5. Why bet on something ... that can be shut down?
Social media can be used for entertainment, socialising or information gathering, but also as an important part of a company's marketing. For some influencers, it is even the core of their business, and some spend a lot of time on content production.
We have often thought that it is a bit scary to invest so much in a medium over which you have no control. What if it closes down or if conditions change radically? We don't really know what will happen to TikTok in the future, but what has happened so far gives us food for thought.
6. Social media 2025 - discovery or community?
It seems that the social media that exist lean either more towards discovery (discover new) or community (building continuity and community). Here TikTok is more an example of the first, while Facebook is perhaps more an example of the second. So, what do you want and what do you want to use social media for?
What are your thoughts on social media in 2025?
What are your thoughts on social media in 2025? Please tell us!
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Anna Nilsson Spets says:
Jaha.... well I'm pretty tired of it myself but stubbornly hanging on to the feud. But far too much coming up that I am not interested in. Still, a way to see what loved ones back home are doing.
22 January 2025 - 6:05
Helena says:
I can understand that social media is a good way to keep in touch with family and friends when living abroad. I also use FB a lot and like many aspects, while I get annoyed with others... 😉
22 January 2025 - 10:05
Netti Starby says:
Social media is constantly evolving and I haven't bothered much with Facebook for years. I think TikTok is more fun than Instagram. Hugs
22 January 2025 - 6:33
Helena says:
Yes, that's exactly how it is, it's evolving all the time ... It's important to keep up! 😉
22 January 2025 - 10:05
Daniel on the Experience Blog says:
Wasn't hit very hard (or even at all) by Instagram's format change, but I'm only more convinced that the base plate is called "blog" for me. My platform, my content, me being the "algorithm". 🙂
22 January 2025 - 9:19
Helena says:
Most people I've spoken to say exactly the same as you about Instagram's format change, probably it's me who's a late adopter when it comes to taking photos at height... 😉 And otherwise I agree with you to 100 %, we feel exactly the same, it's the site that's the core, always 😉
22 January 2025 - 10:07
Eval8 says:
I haven't thought about that with image formats on Instagram. Maybe time to clean up there then. Incomplete images have no function.
I have not got to grips with AI. I'm a bit curious, but know nothing about it.
Happy Wednesday!
22 January 2025 - 10:38
Helena says:
When you click on the pictures on Instagram, they have the format you uploaded them in, but in the grid (ie when you look at the entire profile with all the pictures in overview) the pictures are now oblong standing instead of square. Wish you a nice Wednesday too!
22 January 2025 - 17:23
Enna says:
Very exciting to read!
22 January 2025 - 14:12
Helena says:
Glad it was appreciated!
22 January 2025 - 17:23
The Adventure of the Future says:
For me, the blog is the foundation. It is where I absolutely enjoy myself the most. I have a FB account but closed it down completely for a while and have opened it up again I realise I don't enjoy it at all..so it's change on G again. AI, I am wary of. Don't really want to at all.
Instagram I said no to right away and so there I am..a blogger simply.
Thanks for the interesting posts...have been reading up.
22 January 2025 - 15:10
Helena says:
For us, the blog/site is also the foundation! It's the only thing you can control a little more yourself, and we like that! 🙂
22 January 2025 - 17:24
Ditte says:
Interesting thoughts! Absolutely! I think that in many ways FB will be left behind. Those who have FB and Instagram and post the "same" picture and text on both probably do it to reach more people. I have a FB page, but basically don't want any friends there. Have a few. But I am in the Promenade Club, a locked group and there a lot of info is given out just via FB. Good I think. Still have Instagram and I like that. But there I do not really understand why one publishes "the same" picture of event and post. Maybe there is a thought I do not understand.
As far as blogs are concerned, I've had a few I check in with almost every day for over a year now, some a couple of times a week and others less frequently. It also depends on what the posts are about. Sometimes it is also tricky to comment on the content. Not so much commenting but more absorbing. If it's gardening and other things I'm not amused by, I don't read the post at all.
I am torn about AI. I've tried a few different variants and when asked, the answers have been half right. Right now you don't know if an image or text is AI or not. It should be labelled, but that is not always the case.
The person who "took" my blog name when I cancelled the blog only ran with AI. I think there were two posts the person made but managed to mess it up for me in different ways.
Wondering a lot about the slightly "bigger" bloggers who get so many negative and mean comments in their posts what the point is to continue. Money perhaps because there is a lot of advertising for various consumer goods and collaborations.
I don't mind some advertising at all because I know that collaborations are important for the livelihood and that includes advertising. But bloggers who in their own posts refer to countless own posts make it tiring to read. I also know why one does it and have thought more and more about this. A few references / links should perhaps be enough. On the other hand, it is important to have many followers when it comes to collaborations. Tricky to get everything together.
And I am well aware of how much work goes into a blog. Even a blog in a smaller format.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds. But as I've written, there are some blogs I read and you are one of them.
22 January 2025 - 16:41
Helena says:
Thanks for your engaging comment Ditte!!! I think one of FB's advantages, after all, is exactly what you mention, ie different groups. Groups are quite active and popular on FB it feels like! (I'm also in some, more or less actively perhaps.)
As for Instagram, I think those who post the same picture in feed and story do so because there are partly different people looking at feed and stories. But I agree that it can get tedious, and I don't do it myself ... (not exactly the same anyway, but possibly picture or film clip from the same occasion).
Advertising is an important issue as well. We have to have advertising, because we work with this, but we work on having relevant and good advertising and all our advertising is manually sold, ie we can control it, which we like. So glad our blog is one of the ones you read!
22 January 2025 - 17:29
Aboro says:
Social media is toxic in so many ways. I live in a small town and got rid of FB over 10 years ago after I got sick of the discussion climate - and I know from acquaintances that it hasn't improved since then. Every small town has its Trump and its Musk and I don't need to hear about their ideas. In the beginning I was excluded from certain information but then whatsapp came along so now I get the information I need without having to browse through a lot of sh*t that mainly 50-90 year olds pour out on the fej. Instagram I chose never to start with. Blogs are my joy and I have several favourites. It feels good to follow people you don't know and you get new insights about things that don't belong to your own bubble.
22 January 2025 - 17:16
Helena says:
Thanks for your interesting comment!!! Blogs are a joy for me too, and have been for a long time.
23 January 2025 - 10:01
BP says:
As you know, I have always dared to refuse FB. Never had the need to "sell" myself on FB. Do not read any FB articles either. However, I follow maybe five Instagrammers. Haven't even noticed that Insta has changed the image format - oooops. So carefully I read Instagram; -)
X, I have never checked TikTok. However, I like youtube, especially if you want to quickly access old songs and / or user manuals of all sorts of technical things in film format. But I would never post anything myself.
On the other hand, I can "buy" that you choose FB in locked groups. Then it is often serious people who have a common interest.
Then, in general, I think that nowadays it is mostly 50 plus people who hang out on FB and on blogs. The rest are on tiktok and Insta.
22 January 2025 - 19:41
Helena says:
You just have to choose your social media, otherwise it will be too much of everything ... I rarely watch Youtube, but if I need an instructional video, it's perfect! 🙂 And yes, groups are probably one of Facebook's strongest "cards" I think.
23 January 2025 - 10:03
JoY says:
I don't know anything about AI and I don't even feel like I have to take part in it either.
When we went away on the autumn trip, I just felt that it had to be over with keeping FB / Instagram going. I think these algorithms are taking over the flow, the friends are disappearing. Right now it's enough to write on the blog and look at other blogs.
22 January 2025 - 21:43
Helena says:
Yes, I can agree that Facebook and Instagram have changed from being a place to keep in touch with friends, to being at least partly something else. I still use it and see benefits, but I understand your position.
23 January 2025 - 10:09
Madde says:
I use it a lot, but at the same time, I'm so dual. It's fun to see what my friends are up to and more. Love to see pictures of people travelling, or doing fun things. It inspires me a lot.
23 January 2025 - 8:37
Helena says:
I also like to see friends' photos, but I find that I see less and less of it on Facebook unfortunately, and more and more advertising and sponsored content ...
25 January 2025 - 10:39
Sara in Barcelona says:
Gomorron!
Very interesting thoughts and I agree with most of them 🙂
I use FB, IG and blog and then I follow some Youtubers.
FB is mainly for my "old" life in Sweden, as many of my old acquaintances use that forum the most. Unfortunately, like you, I feel that advertising and posts that do not interest me in the slightest have now taken over more and more, and I find it absolutely tiring. One is in the clutches of the algorithm as you say, and yes, it really is.
IG uses to create reels which I think is very fun, and there I have a more international account, so to speak. I think it's good that the image format has changed as I have often experienced that the image has been cut when I have to share something 😀 However, I understand that it was not as successful with your image there, haha 🙂
In the blog I can write more in depth, share pictures and thoughts and personally I love to follow blogs also because of that, it feels a little more personal.
Thank you for many interesting comments!
Hugs!
23 January 2025 - 10:57
Helena says:
Yes, it's sad that there is so much advertising on FB. I can understand that advertising is needed, but I want there to be some relevant things between the advertising at least, and sometimes it does not feel like that ... 😉 And yes, I think many people like the new format on Instagram, I have to learn to take photos at the height simply, a little late on the ball there ... 😉
25 January 2025 - 10:41
Hanneles book paradise says:
Facebook is still a pretty good place to keep in touch with friends and family who aren't right around the corner.
24 January 2025 - 13:01
Helena says:
If you find good ways to keep in touch, that's great!
25 January 2025 - 10:42
Monnah says:
It's tricky, this. Connecting with the known and unknown is something we take for granted today. Facebook was revolutionary for me, I loved it. Today it's Messenger I use and I get tips and advice on activities. I have my own group that runs every November (Thirty Thankful Days) and a family group. Otherwise Facebook is "dead". I have Instagram, but have not posted anything since 2020 and now mostly use DM. Did not even know about the format. Don't have TikTok, don't use X and don't use LinkedIn either. My focus is the blog and those who read there / other bloggers. That feeling of being owned by SoMe is widespread... Good luck finding the right forum for your new business!
24 January 2025 - 15:52
Helena says:
Yes, I think many, like you, have found their ways of using FB, e.g. in the form of groups or messages. For us, the blog / site is also central, and the other may be a little "around", depending on what works / fits at the moment ... 😉
25 January 2025 - 10:44
Anna in Portugal says:
The thing about Facebook/Instagram facilitating contact with friends and acquaintances... I think friendships should be maintained on an individual level, not via mass messages that everyone should read. So in my world FB is just a way to avoid engagement, a way that makes you think you are maintaining relationships. When I stopped using FB, a lot of so-called friends disappeared. So, in other words, I had wasted many hours "maintaining" friendships that were not really there. When I started texting instead, I realised that these were not relationships I wanted to keep. So using social media to maintain friendships is a waste of time for me, as there are no conversations there. The intimacy of the friendship disappears and it changes the whole friendship relationship.
I love blogging, where dialogues take place and relationships can thus be built.
25 January 2025 - 10:28
Helena says:
I understand what you mean! You can of course use Messenger, but then you can also choose, for example, Whats App. Agree with blogging and dialogues, you get the chance to express yourself a little further, not just emojis and like buttons 😉
25 January 2025 - 10:45