Trending Topics on Social Media Research in 2026
As we move into 2026, social media research continues to evolve rapidly, driven by new technologies, shifting user behaviours, and emerging platforms. From studying AI-driven content personalization and influencer credibility to analyzing digital well-being, algorithmic bias, and online community dynamics, researchers are uncovering how social media shapes opinions, emotions, and societies. This year’s trending topics in social media analytics, digital communication, and user engagement research reflect a growing focus on ethics, authenticity, and the psychological impact of constant connectivity – making this field more dynamic and relevant than ever for academic research.
1. Use of Social Media for Managing Online Presence
As per this Global Social Media 2025 report by The GlobalStatistics, in 2025 – there are approximately 5.24 billion social media users globally – equating to over 63% of the world’s population. Giving rise to a very interesting topic on social media research – how do subscribers manage their online presence? Key parameters that can be evaluated are – sharing work-related content, engaging in networking, peer comparisons, or showcasing achievements.
Example Survey Questions:
- What do you typically use social media for?
- How often do you use social media for professional purposes?
Live Example:
This researcher from IIT Delhi collaborated with data collection firm to collect responses for survey-based study to explore how LinkedIn subscribers utilize this platform – capturing typical experiences, thoughts, and behaviours while using social media in a professional context.
2. Do Social Media Influencers Really Drive Purchases
Another trending area of research in social media is a deep dive into how influencer marketing is affecting buying behaviour. This topic looks at how promotional activities on platforms like Instagram and YouTube are shaping consumer behaviour in India’s emerging markets like – electronics, skincare, and clothing.
Example Survey Questions:
- Do you follow the content of influencers on a regular basis?
- Do you trust the brand advertised by the influencers?
ThinkSurvey Tip:
Even a smaller sample size is enough to carry social media research on cosmetic influencer marketing done by academic researcher. Here is in-depth coverage on recent influencer marketing research areas that are creating real-world impact and social media buzz.
3. Is Social Media the New Decision-Making Tool
From product choices to life goals, this area of social media research explores how much people rely on likes, comments, and online reviews before making decisions. It explores how social media content often help/influence to form an opinion or perception about a person, a situation, an institution, or a system.
Example Survey Questions:
- How much time do you spend on your social media accounts daily?
- How often do you make purchase decisions solely based on information or recommendations from social media?
Live Example:
This research team from Amity University utilized online survey tool to access audience panel from across India to study how social media content are intentionally designed for users to react in a specific way (like sensationalized news headlines, clickbait images etc.).
4. Does Social Media Content Affect our Self-esteem
This topic of social media research explores how reels, pics and other related content shared by your friends & colleagues on their social media channels shape self-perception and influence how individuals, particularly young users, feel about themselves.
Example Survey Questions:
- To what extent feeling of competence emerges when you watch any content update posted on social media by your network?
- To what extent you feel sense of belongingness when you receive likes, comments, or other forms of validation on your social media posts?
ThinkSurvey Tip:
Run a national level study to explore various emotions that users go through while following a post update by their network. Segment your respondents based on age – upto 15 years, 16-25 years, 25 years and above; and run comparative analysis. Avoid these common data collection challenges for a smoother research execution without any hiccups.
Turn your Social Media Research idea into Results
Join leading researchers and start-ups who trust ThinkSurvey for reliable data and actionable insights
5. What Drives Young Indians to Buy from Social Media Ads
This topic on social media research deep-dives into how social media marketing affects the purchase intent of Indian youth – one of the largest and most engaged digital demographics in the country today.
Example Survey Questions:
- What triggers you for impulse purchases – price, peer influence, or platform design?
- Are in-store impulse buys higher than online?
Research Tip:
This is an interesting area of research for businesses relying heavily on social media channels for customer acquisition and sales. A deep-dive into studying emotions and unplanned buying behaviour of consumers using qualitative research can be an effective step.
How to Select the Right Topic on Social Media Research
Choosing the right topic for your social media research can feel daunting, especially with the fast-changing trends and platforms. A structured approach helps ensure your study is both relevant and feasible.
- Start by conducting a detailed literature review on social media trends, influencer marketing, digital behaviour, or online engagement. Use journal databases and preprint servers to spot emerging themes in social media studies.
- Next, identify knowledge gaps – areas where prior studies leave questions unanswered, such as misinformation patterns, algorithmic bias, or audience sentiment shifts. Reading discussion sections of research papers or attending academic webinars can reveal these opportunities.
- Once you shortlist promising ideas, test each one for feasibility: Do you have access to social media analytics tools, data sources, or the right expertise? Evaluate your timeline, resources, and institutional support.
- Seek feedback from peers or mentors to refine your research questions and ensure your topic aligns with current debates in digital communication or online community behaviour.
Finally, select a topic that’s not only timely but also personally motivating—because passion sustains you through challenges. A well-chosen topic in social media research balances novelty, relevance, and practical scope for meaningful academic contribution.
How ThinkSurvey enables Social Media Researchers and Data Collection
Many researchers, start-ups and SMEs having active presence on social media often feel stuck at critical stages of market research process:
- “I have the idea, but don’t know where to start.”
- “I have the questionnaire ready, but I’m stuck at the data collection stage.”
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Conducting impactful social media research in India requires two essentials:
- A well-defined target audience that reflects diverse communities.
- Best data collection agency for reliable data collection methods to capture honest environmental attitudes.
At ThinkSurvey, we bridge this gap for researchers. Our team of experts make it easy to gather high-quality responses across states, age groups, and income brackets.
Why Choose ThinkSurvey for Data Collection in Social Media Research
- Audience Panel: Get answers from a pre-screened panel of Indian citizens from all states – ensuring your study on social media reflects the real population.
- Vast Demographics: Students, working professionals, households, and businesses – with responses balanced by gender, age, income, and region.
- Expert Research Team: Specialists who understand academic surveys and social media research methodologies.
- Scalable Data Collection: From 50 to 5,000+ responses, depending on your project scope.
- Timely Delivery: End-to-end project execution delivered within the agreed timeline.
- Dedicated Support: A single point of contact guides you from questionnaire design to data analysis.
