5 Emerging Social Media Platforms for Marketers

The social media landscape is evolving rapidly, offering marketers new opportunities to reach audiences, engage users, and drive conversions. While established platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok continue to dominate, emerging social media platforms are gaining traction, attracting niche audiences and providing innovative features that marketers can leverage for growth.

In 2026, successful marketing requires staying ahead of trends, exploring new platforms, and experimenting with content formats to capture attention and build meaningful connections. Emerging platforms often provide less crowded environments, higher organic reach, and unique engagement tools that can amplify brand visibility.

This article explores five emerging social media platforms marketers should consider in 2026, along with strategies for leveraging them effectively.

Table of Contents

1. BeReal – Authentic Engagement in Real-Time

BeReal is a social media platform focused on authentic, unfiltered content, encouraging users to share moments as they happen. Unlike highly curated feeds, BeReal prompts users once daily to post simultaneous front-and-back camera photos, creating genuine, spontaneous snapshots of daily life.

Why Marketers Should Pay Attention

Appeals to audiences seeking authenticity and real connections.
Less saturated, providing higher visibility for brands.
Encourages user participation and engagement in a novel way.

Marketing Strategies on BeReal

Collaborate with micro-influencers to showcase authentic product experiences.
Share behind-the-scenes content to humanize your brand.
Encourage user-generated content campaigns tied to daily prompts.
Engage actively by responding to posts and joining trending moments.
Align messaging with transparency and authenticity to resonate with users.

By leveraging BeReal, marketers can build trust, foster genuine engagement, and differentiate their brand in a crowded social media space.

2. Clubhouse – Audio-First Networking

Clubhouse revolutionized social media with its audio-only format, allowing users to host and participate in live conversations. Though its initial hype has evolved, Clubhouse remains a powerful platform for marketers to connect with niche communities and thought leaders.

Why Clubhouse Matters

Supports deep engagement through live discussions and Q&A sessions.
Enables brands to showcase expertise and thought leadership.
Attracts audiences seeking interactive, value-driven content.

Marketing Strategies on Clubhouse

Host live discussions on industry trends, product insights, or problem-solving sessions.
Collaborate with influencers or industry experts to reach relevant audiences.
Use Clubhouse to conduct market research and gather audience feedback.
Promote events, launches, or campaigns to an engaged listener base.
Build community by hosting recurring rooms and creating consistent content experiences.

Clubhouse allows marketers to engage audiences in real-time conversations, strengthen credibility, and foster community around their brand.

3. Locket – Personal, Shared Experiences

Locket is a mobile app that allows users to share live photos directly to friends’ home screens via widgets, creating a sense of intimacy and immediacy. It’s less of a traditional social feed and more of a personal, real-time sharing experience.

Why Locket Matters

Engages users with private, highly interactive content.
Offers a unique format for influencer partnerships and brand activations.
Provides early access to a growing, niche audience.

Marketing Strategies on Locket

Partner with influencers to share authentic, brand-related moments.
Encourage customers to share experiences with products through widgets.
Launch limited-time campaigns that invite users to interact with brand content directly on their home screens.
Use creative, real-time content to showcase product usage or lifestyle integration.
Track engagement metrics through app analytics to refine campaigns.

Locket enables marketers to experiment with personal, intimate content that strengthens brand loyalty and user engagement.

4. Discord – Community-Driven Marketing

Originally built for gamers, Discord has evolved into a robust community platform where users gather around shared interests. Its server-based structure allows brands to create dedicated communities, offering direct engagement and long-term relationships.

Why Discord Matters

Builds loyal, engaged communities around products or services.
Encourages discussions, feedback, and real-time interactions.
Supports niche marketing by targeting specific interest groups.

Marketing Strategies on Discord

Create branded servers where users can interact, share content, and access exclusive offers.
Host live events, Q&A sessions, or workshops to provide value to community members.
Collaborate with influencers to drive traffic to servers and boost engagement.
Use bots to automate onboarding, announcements, and engagement activities.
Monitor discussions to gain insights into user preferences and pain points.

Discord allows marketers to build deep, meaningful connections with highly engaged communities, fostering brand advocacy and loyalty.

5. TikTok’s Competitors and Emerging Short-Form Platforms

While TikTok remains a dominant force, several emerging short-form video platforms are gaining attention, including Clapper, Triller, and Zynn. These platforms focus on bite-sized video content, creative expression, and viral potential, providing opportunities for early adoption.

Why Short-Form Platforms Matter

Capitalize on the popularity of short, engaging, and shareable video content.
Less saturated than TikTok, allowing higher organic reach.
Encourage creativity and trend-based marketing campaigns.

Marketing Strategies for Short-Form Platforms

Create engaging, snackable video content that resonates with your audience.
Leverage trends, challenges, and hashtags to increase visibility.
Collaborate with micro and nano influencers to drive authentic engagement.
Test different content formats, from tutorials and demos to entertaining skits.
Repurpose high-performing content across multiple platforms to maximize reach.

Emerging short-form platforms give marketers a chance to experiment creatively and capture early attention in growing social spaces.

Additional Tips for Marketers in Emerging Platforms

Focus on Early Adoption: Early engagement on emerging platforms often yields higher visibility and influence.
Experiment with Content Formats: Each platform has unique content dynamics—test videos, audio, interactive posts, and live content.
Track Metrics and Engagement: Monitor reach, interactions, and conversions to evaluate platform potential.
Build Authentic Connections: Emerging platforms reward transparency, authenticity, and community-driven engagement.
Integrate with Overall Marketing Strategy: Use these platforms to complement established channels and reinforce brand messaging.

Exploring emerging platforms allows marketers to diversify reach, innovate content strategies, and gain a competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving social media landscape.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Treating emerging platforms the same as established ones, ignoring unique formats and audience behavior.
Overly promotional content that fails to resonate with early adopters.
Neglecting engagement, which is crucial for community-driven platforms.
Ignoring analytics and failing to measure ROI.
Failing to maintain consistency and relevance across platforms.

Avoiding these mistakes ensures marketers maximize the potential of emerging platforms without wasting resources or missing opportunities.

Conclusion

Emerging social media platforms in 2026 provide unique opportunities for marketers to reach niche audiences, foster engagement, and build brand loyalty. Platforms like BeReal, Clubhouse, Locket, Discord, and new short-form video apps are redefining how users interact with content and brands, emphasizing authenticity, community, and creativity.

The top five emerging social media platforms for marketers include:

BeReal – Focus on authentic, real-time engagement.
Clubhouse – Connect through live audio discussions and thought leadership.
Locket – Share intimate, personal experiences directly with users.
Discord – Build and nurture community-driven engagement.
Emerging Short-Form Video Platforms – Capitalize on bite-sized, viral content trends.

By adopting these platforms strategically, marketers can stay ahead of trends, reach highly engaged audiences, and experiment with innovative content formats. Success in emerging platforms requires creativity, authenticity, and data-driven experimentation, enabling brands to thrive in the next generation of social media marketing.