The Days of Trend-Chasing Are Over: New Research from Sprout Social Reveals a Third of Consumers Think Jumping on Viral Trends is “Embarrassing” for Brands

CHICAGO , Jan. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to The 2025 Sprout Social Index™ Edition XX released today, social media has become the #1 source for keeping up with trends and cultural moments, ranking ahead of TV, family and friends, and every other digital channel. While this shift gives culturally aware brands a greater opportunity to land in people’s feeds, it also means attention is harder than ever to earn, especially in an increasingly saturated social landscape. To avoid getting lost in the noise, brands must move beyond surface-level trend-chasing and instead provide original, human-centric content and personalized, 1:1 engagements— particularly in customer care— to secure trust, drive sales, and cement their place in cultural conversations.