7 Social Media Marketing Trends to Watch in 2025
Wondering what’s next for social media? Here are 7 social media marketing trends in 2025 every business should watch to stay ahead in Malaysia.
Table of Contents
Why Trends Matter in Social Media Marketing
Social media changes fast. What worked in 2023 may already feel outdated in 2025. Businesses that adapt early usually get better reach, stronger engagement, and higher ROI. Those that ignore shifts risk being left behind.
Here are the 7 biggest social media marketing trends to watch in 2025 — and how they affect businesses in Malaysia.
Short-Form Video Keeps Dominating
TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts remain the most powerful ways to grab attention. Consumers prefer quick, snackable videos over long posts.
👉 Businesses in F&B, fashion, and home & decor should lean into video-first strategies, behind-the-scenes clips, tutorials, and authentic storytelling.
Social Commerce Becomes Mainstream
In Malaysia, TikTok Shop & Shopee Live are driving direct sales from social platforms. Consumers no longer just “see” products online — they buy them instantly.
👉 E-commerce and retail SMEs must integrate social commerce into their strategy to stay competitive.
Rise of Xiao Hong Shu (RED) in Malaysia
Xiao Hong Shu (RED) is exploding among Chinese-speaking Malaysians, especially for lifestyle, F&B, beauty, and travel. It blends user reviews, community, and influencer content.
👉 Brands targeting urban, young Chinese Malaysians should not ignore RED in 2025.
Authenticity Over Perfection (KOC Marketing)
Polished influencer ads are losing trust. Instead, KOCs (Key Opinion Consumers) — everyday users sharing honest reviews — are driving stronger engagement.
👉 Businesses can seed products with micro-creators and repurpose their content for ads, which often outperforms studio-made campaigns.
AI-Powered Content & Customer Engagement
AI tools are now common for content creation, ad optimisation, and chatbots. But in 2025, the winners will be brands that balance AI efficiency with human creativity.
👉 Expect more personalised ad creatives, AI-generated captions, and smarter chat support on Facebook & Instagram.
Founder-Driven IP Building
In 2025, building a strong personal IP (intellectual property) as a founder is just as important as building the business brand. By sharing authentic stories and insights, founders humanise their brand, build thought leadership, and often achieve higher reach than faceless brand pages.
👉 For SMEs, founder IP building isn’t just a trend — it’s a way to stand out, attract loyalty, and future-proof the brand.
Social Media Becomes a Search Engine
More Malaysians — especially Gen Z — are using TikTok and Xiao Hong Shu as search engines. Instead of Googling “best café in KL,” they search directly on social apps for video reviews and recommendations.
👉 Businesses should start optimising captions, hashtags, and video titles for search intent, not just virality.