What are the key social media trends for Australian SMEs in 2026?

ROI answers

As of early 2026, successful social media marketing for Australian SMEs relies heavily on hyper-personalisation driven by AI and the seamless integration of social commerce within existing platforms. Current systems include sophisticated algorithms analysing user behaviour to deliver highly targeted content and shopping experiences.

  • AI-Powered Content Creation: Platforms now feature integrated AI tools capable of generating text, images, and even short-form video content tailored to specific audience segments.
  • Augmented Reality (AR) Shopping: Consumers increasingly expect to ‘try before they buy’ using AR filters and virtual showrooms directly within social apps.
  • Decentralised Social Networks: While mainstream platforms dominate, a growing segment of consumers are adopting blockchain-based social networks prioritising data privacy and user control.

In 2026, Australian businesses must also be acutely aware of the updated ACCC guidelines regarding influencer marketing and data privacy, ensuring full transparency and compliance with consumer law. Furthermore, the increasing prevalence of voice search necessitates optimising social content for conversational queries. The focus is shifting from broad reach to building genuine communities and fostering direct engagement through interactive formats like live shopping and Q&A sessions.

Rather than navigating these complex technical requirements yourself, you can simply reach out to our team. At ROI.com.au, we can take care of all this for you—visit our contact page to get started.


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