Busy Blooming with Tess Barclay TikTok is dying in 2026: What's working right now on social media
Jan 12, 2026
Dive into the wild world of social media where creators are moving from broad audiences to intimate inner circles. Discover why polished-casual content is the new gold standard, and how raw, unscripted videos are making a comeback against AI saturation. Instagram and YouTube are evolving with new algorithms, prioritizing engagement over perfection. Tess shares actionable ideas for posting relatable content and encourages experimentation this month. Don't miss the latest trends and insights on influencer dynamics as we approach 2026!
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Polished Videos Got Flagged As AI
- Tess Barclay shares that her high-production videos flopped while simple iPhone front-camera clips performed better.
- Viewers even asked if her polished videos were AI because they looked 'too perfect.'
Brands Favor Niche Topic Creators
- Influencer marketing remains valuable: influencer content outperforms brand ads and marketers favor topic-based discovery.
- Brands prefer niche creators with clear topical focus over large non-specific followings.
Instagram Lets Users Tweak Their Algorithm
- Instagram now lets users view and tweak their personal algorithm interests.
- This makes clear categorization (captions, bio keywords) more important than hashtags for content discovery.