At the beginning of the year, we invited 11 experts to share their social media forecasts for 2025. They anticipated major changes — from immersive world-building and private communities to AI woven into everything, LinkedIn’s growing prominence, and a creator economy shifting toward more durable, long-term businesses. Now that the year has wrapped, it’s the perfect time to pause and review what actually happened.Some predictions landed almost exactly as expected. Others unfolded more slowly or took a different shape. The space between what was predicted and what occurred is where the most valuable insights tend to emerge.In this article, we’re revisiting seven key themes from our original piece: what truly happened, where expectations fell short, and what creators and brands can carry into their 2026 strategies.⚡Revisit the 2025 predictions at 7 Predictions for Social Media in 2025 from Creator Economy ExpertsPrediction 1: LinkedIn as a creator & influencer hubVerdict: Mostly on targetAt the outset of 2025, we suggested that LinkedIn would move beyond its roots as a standard professional network and step more fully into the creator economy.That evolution did occur, reflected in both new platform capabilities and how creators used the site.Throughout the year, LinkedIn broadened its video-first options, introduced richer creator analytics, and streamlined tools for consistent publishing. In parallel, brands became more open to collaborating with creators on LinkedIn, and employees increasingly used the platform to cultivate both personal and company brands.Key proof points:Video emerged as one of LinkedIn’s fastest-growing content types, with uploads and views climbing 36% year over year.Creator–brand collaborations became more frequent across sectors, with one agency…