Event Photos, Social Media & The Next Generation

Studies show that competition and fitness are not the main reason the younger generation participates. The main motivation is fun, friends and purpose. Knowing that there has been a shift as to why we participate, event directors need to innovate and adapt. With social media being a main source of communication and connection, event photos is a clear way to add value to your event and capture the attention of this generation.

If we shift our focus from being just an event to making it a participant experience, then we are on track to capture the attention of the new participant. The experience is not just on race day. The new participant wants to be part of something fun, something that is attainable, and something that has a purpose. The decision to participate comes much more from a place of passion than a place of fitness.

A huge part of the experience is being able to do it with friends and being able to share it on social medial. Instant gratification tends to be how we describe the social media users, but there is a lot more to social media than just that. This group is made up of influencers, they believe in a cause and they are experts in building awareness and interest.

Naturally, photography and race photos are a major tool for social media, which indirectly, is a way of advertising your event without advertising your event.

Following are some astonishing numbers regarding the social media marketing presented by sprout social.

1. In 2023, there are estimated to be 4.89 billion total social media users worldwide.
2. The average person bounces between seven different social networks per month.
3. 70% of American adults use Facebook
4. An average American spends 33 minutes per day on Facebook.
5. Almost a quarter of Facebook users in the US are between the ages 25-34.
6. 61.2% of total Instagram users are between the ages 18-34.
7. Reels take up 30% of the time people spend on Instagram.
8. TikTok has over 1 billion active users worldwide.
9. 38.9% of TikTok users are 18-24 years old and account for the largest share of TikTok’s advertising audience.
10. 78.9% of TikTok users are looking for fun or entertaining content on the platform.

Social media statistics give us valuable insight into who our audience is, their interests and habits. We know that this generation communicates, influences, and connects via social. With visuals being the most important way of communicating, photography at your events is an important way of capturing that audience and boosting the value and allure of your event.