Social Trends 2026

Learn about how social media is changing the way people spend, shop, and connect and what that means for brands heading into 2026. Join Pulse Advertising Co-Founder and CEO Chris Kastenholz for an exclusive session breaking down the biggest trends every marketer should know.

Gen Z spend 50% of time on social, but brands only invest 12% of advertising budget to it – revealing your opportunity to increase investment where your audience is actually searching and purchasing products.  And 2026 is your reallocation opportunity.

Social has evolved from entertainment to a global commerce ecosystem. Douyin alone processed $480 billion GMV in 2024 – more than Amazon’s entire annual revenue. While China races ahead, many Western brands remain stuck in legacy models built for sole markets, cycles, and demographics.

Social platforms move at the speed of culture and organize around communities globally. The brands that realign first will gain advantages that compound.

Whether you focus on budgets, brand strategy, or campaign execution, this session will show how to turn social attention into measurable business results.