Instagram, WhatsApp, and their parent company Facebook have rightfully come under fire for social media privacy concerns. That’s been true for years, although the Cambridge Analytica data scandal definitely increased concerns.

That’s been ramped up again recently with WhatsApp’s privacy policy change.

Prepare to Market On Other Platforms

Recent confusion over the changes to Whatsapp’s privacy policy and what they share with their parent company Facebook led to a surge of users looking for and fleeing to alternative apps. If your audience is moving to a different platform, you need to be there too.

With the expansion and continued use of remote work, many flocked to LinkedIn. In turn, LinkedIn introduced a load of new features. Invite to follow allows first-degree profile connections to be invited to follow your page. LinkedIn Live allows brands to interact in real-time with their audiences, allowing comments during live video broadcasts. 

Social Media Privacy Issues Lead to Distrust

Social media privacy concerns continue to lead to distrust and cynicism. In a survey of internet users worldwide, 83% were concerned about their privacy. Only 61% said they would accept certain risks to their privacy for the sake of convenience.

Be honest with your consumers about what data you are using and how you are using it. For example, if you make it clear that you are using their purchase history to recommend them new products they may like, that’s an easier sell than not disclosing any information or being vague about how you use their information. Your users will appreciate your honesty, and you can gain their trust. 

Targeted Advertising on Social Media Is Getting Harder

Although many users may not know how to opt-out, Instagram and Facebook users can opt-out of personalized ads. As social media privacy concerns increase, expect more users to do this. 

Some are even calling for a complete ban on targeted advertising. They argue that it violates Europe’s GDPR law by processing users’ data without their consent. Currently, many countries outside of the EU do not have similar laws, but with increased government scrutiny towards social media sites, that could change in the near future.

Email Marketing Is Still Valuable

Email marketing is still effective. It’s very measurable too-opens, click-through rates, conversion rates-these can all be quantified. Users will flee Facebook and Instagram, and switch to Signal instead of WhatsApp, but they will still have an email account.

Don’t ignore email marketing for social media. There’s still great value in it. Both email and social media can be important tenets of your marketing. If you aren’t using email marketing to its full potential, now is the time to r

Looking to Reach Your Audience on Social Media?

Social media privacy is a concern for many users. It’s likely a concern for the audience you’re trying to reach too. So how do you build trust and reach them? Maybe you don’t know how, but we do.

We can make sure your brand’s message is understood across social media platforms. Contact us today to find out how.