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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While today\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Article: TIPS TO CREATE A USER JOURNEY MAP (AND WHY IT\u2019S IMPORTANT)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyler Gates, managing principal of immersive and interactive content studioBrightline Interactive, has been creating immersive experiences and simulations for 16 years. After working with some of the country\u2019s top brands, Gates has fresh ideas about how next-gen networks and improved bandwidth will level the playing field in technology and drive what\u2019s ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe onset of 5G really is an enabling technology,\u201d Gates said. \u201cIt will enable both mobile devices as well as head-mounted displays for things like VR, AR and MR [virtual, augmented and mixed reality]. It\u2019s going to allow us to experience social media content or information represented in a completely different way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In assessing social media today, Gates maintains that the content is mostly static\u2014and experienced primarily via our mobile devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRight now social media largely happens on a two-dimensional screen,\u201d Gates said. \u201cSometimes with Instagram or Facebook stories, there\u2019s the inclusion or incorporation of video content, but for the most part, social media is driven by the written word.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n No Hands<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The game-changer, according to Gates, will be how the interface is controlled. Throughout the history of computing, the way we\u2019ve managed almost all interfaces was with some form of controller: a video game controller, a keyboard, a mouse or a smartphone keyboard, for instance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s always been a translation mechanism for you to control something you can experience visually,\u201d explained Gates. \u201cThe difference between then and now, with something like [Microsoft\u2019s] HoloLens 2, is you are just using your hands normally. So we\u2019ve removed the abstractions between you and the content you experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5G\u2019s high speed and low latency make these experiences possible, as we\u2019re less limited by bandwidth. Instead of experiencing social media content through a device from which you\u2019re just viewing information, images or videos, you\u2019ll be fully immersed<\/em> in the content that you\u2019re sharing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith an expanded data pipeline, we can experience more data in a more realistic forum and a more real-time, immediate capacity,\u201d said Gates. \u201cSocial media will get a massive upgrade.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Putting The Active In Interactive<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The ability for a business to create collaborative environments leads to tremendous potential for engagement. But to really win at the social media game, Gates advises companies to stay in sync with cultural trends. \u201cRight now, people want to experience content in a personalized capacity that\u2019s relevant to them. They want it when they want it, and they want to drive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take HBO\u2019s Game of Thrones<\/em>, for example. According to Gates, a company like HBO wants you to watch the show as soon as possible because fans who haven\u2019t watched yet are usually reluctant to discuss the show in the time frame where it matters most. \u201cAs the week goes on, that episode is going to lose relevancy,\u201d Gates said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, he argues, just because the show has ended, some experiences for the viewer can extend its life. And this is the big takeaway for businesses\u2019 evolving their social media strategies: With interactive social content, a company\u2019s product, service or intellectual property can live on in a variety of ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s already a bandwidth-heavy AR experience<\/a> for the hit series, but in the future, fans may be able to follow their own storyline in real time, record the experience, share it with a friend or partake in someone else\u2019s storyline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Level Playing Field<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine the possibilities for social media engagement if companies could incorporate emerging interactive technologies into their messaging. Better yet, for organizations of all sizes, expensive equipment won\u2019t be required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n