As a creative, David Levin has found an unconventional way to talk us through the year in social media. Did he miss anything?
A-Z (Adobe Stock)
As we enter a new year, there may be some new arrivals to the professional social media universe. To help those newcomers navigate our ever-changing landscape, and as a refresher for seasoned social media maestros who’ve forgotten everything after two weeks of living like a sloth on gardening leave, below is a handy A to Z of social media in 2026.
A is for AI, which is a bit like Google on mushrooms.
B is for “Be authentic”, usually followed by a 14-step approval process.
C is for circling back, which is very important going forward.
D is for data, which supports any strategy you already liked.
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E is for engagement. Four likes on a hilarious meme? Engagement.
F is for followers. A number that matters deeply when you have them. And doesn’t when you don’t.
G is for growth, which is organic… unless you paid for it.
H is for hot-takes, served lukewarm but posted confidently.
I is for insights, which arrive too late but still go in the deck.
J is for journeys, ideally personal ones outlined in long LinkedIn posts, full of learnings.
K is for KPIs because vibes still need benchmarks.
L is for LinkedIn, where you must spend a minimum of 12 hours a day inhaling hot-takes, insights and journeys.
M is for Microsoft Teams. Yes, we can see your screen (and your notifications).
N is for notifications, all urgent, none important.
O is for organic reach. For the youths out there, ask your grandparents; they used to love it.
P is for personal brand, something you accidentally built by oversharing once.
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Q is for questions, usually raised five minutes after posting.
R is for Reels, a bit like TikTok except when it isn’t.
S is for strategy: robust in pitches, overlooked in meme carousels
T is for Threads, which you absolutely must not sleep on (unless, like me, you are).
U is for user-generated content: adored by brands, ignored by users.
V is for viral, a perfectly acceptable client request with a budget of £15 or over
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W is for wellness posts, usually written during burnout.
X is for X, the hellscape formerly known as Twitter.
Y is for “you won’t believe this” clickbait headlines (spoiler: you will believe it).
Z is for Zoom, where your HR disciplinary meeting can have a Jurassic Park background.
David Levin is a writer who co-founded the social agency, That Lot (now part of The Weber Shandwick Collective). He currently resides in Northern Ireland writing for brands and managing socials for a sportsperson of the legendary variety.