Real-time and live content
Many internet celebrities have become big on YouTube in recent years and have been discovered by Hollywood. Often with vlogs that are uploaded periodically. But livestreaming is increasing in popularity. You can now livestream on almost every social network. Facebook live, Instagram, Houseparty, Twitter (Periscope). It fits in with the trend that social media are becoming increasingly real-time. I even suspect that the Snapchat Spectacles glasses (or a variant thereof) will have the ability to live stream on the platform.
And I think that the big social media platforms will offer messages in large numbers where you can watch live (paid or not) with real-time feeds. Think of (celebrity) vloggers, but also live streaming (via drones) for news reporting, sports matches or other large-scale events. Real-time offers a unique experience and the big social media platforms know that.
Amazon is also getting into the live content battle, in 2014 hospitals email list they bought Twitch.tv. This is a service that broadcasts live streams of many different games. Viewers can chat with each other during the live stream. With over 100 million monthly visitors, this is a good example of how live content can be hugely successful in a niche market.
Virtual reality, the new reality?
The above ties in nicely with the future link between social media and virtual reality (VR). In 2014, Facebook acquired the company Oculus VR for two billion dollars. With this, Facebook made it clear that they want to make virtual reality serious. YouTube (Google cardboard) is also putting its two cents in with its app YouTube VR. Virtual reality has the potential to become the new meeting place for people with the same interests, but also a gathering place for many. Social + Virtual makes sense.
Paul McCartney in VR
Paul McCartney in VR. Source: Jaunt VR
Facebook and YouTube have the best cards. In a few years, I think you will be able to visit (real-time) concerts and sporting events with VR glasses on your nose via these two providers. Be present at a Jay-Z concert live, attend a lecture by Richard Branson or watch the Barcelona - Real Madrid cracker from different perspectives. Social media are also increasingly becoming a place to.