If you're reading this, you made it through 2016. Congratulations.

Welcome to our inaugural social and digital predictions. In this first part, we'll look at trends we're witnessing within the tech/social industry. In the next part, we'll look at school-specific predictions.

Firstly, let's revisit 2016... Gulp.

Our 2016 predictions - how did we do?

1. More Twitter characters [CORRECT]
2. Moving further away from television [CORRECT]
3. Periscope inside Twitter, and the real launch of live streaming [CORRECT]
4. 360° videos and 360°live streaming [CORRECT]
5. One-click purchasing on social media [INCORRECT]
6. Snapchat to be sold [INCORRECT]
7. Battle for news [CORRECT]
8. Vertical video [CORRECT]
9. Messaging apps = The new OS [CORRECT]

To read more about last year's predictions, and an analysis of each, take a look at our recap of 2016.

What does 2017 have in store for us?

[1] (More) Live Streaming

We called it last year, and it’s becoming clearer that live video on social platforms is the trend for 2017. We’ll start to see live-streaming move way beyond just early-adopters and into the hands of the mainstream users.

How many Facebook ads have you ever seen on TV, billboards, etc.? None, unless you remember the awkward TV advert back in 2012, when Facebook said ‘Chairs are like Facebook’. Yes, that really happened.

Yet, we’re constantly seeing the new Facebook Live adverts. Why? Well, Facebook know how important it is to win the live-streaming battle.

[1] More Twitter characters [CORRECT]

We predicted that pictures, and links will not be included in the 140 character limit.

In May 2016, Twitter announced you would be allowed to express more, within 140 characters. Then in September, Twitter rolled out a feature that meant photos, videos, GIFs, polls, and Quote Tweets no longer count towards the 140 characters.

The Advent period does not need to be all about chocolate you know (though it can't hurt to have some chocolate every day ). Instead, we can have lots of fun online while delivering a really strong and engaging marketing campaign.

Yes, the #SocialAdvent Challenge is back for 2016! 

Every day we are going to be setting a different challenge. So, for 25 days you will have something new to share on Twitter. The idea is that you will be able to share things that your communities will be interested in. It also helps you get into a rhythm of tweeting (and will hopefully inspire you too!). 

To take part, and be in for a chance to win infamy, post your Tweets using #SocialAdvent. You will be able to follow along and find inspiring content from other schools. We will be monitoring #SocialAdvent every day and picking our favourite Tweets for each badge.

Make sure you check back here each day to see all the winners and the challenge of the day.

Day 1

Each year, schools all around the world share their inspiring #SchoolStories throughout December. Each day there's a new challenge to tackle and share with your community. We call it #SocialAdvent.

Will you be taking part? Last year, schools taking part reached over 2 million people.

The #SocialAdvent Challenge 2016

December has been a firm favourite at @intSchools HQ for the past three years, following the great fun we've had running our #SocialAdvent challenge. This year we are looking to make the challenge our greatest one yet, with a record number of participants across a global audience.

To make it extra special, our creative elves have been hard at work - coming up and designing a bigger, better and refreshed #SocialAdvent challenge to spread festive marketing cheer this December. 

So, without further ado we have this year's #SocialAdvent to share out now!

It has reached that odd part of November where Christmas enthusiasts really start gearing up for Christmas, and Christmas traditionalists gawp at all the festivities coming down the chimney a month too early.

Regardless of your stance on when Christmas should start, planning in an effective seasonal marketing campaign is an incredible way to get lots of engagement. Of course, having enough content to do this can be difficult to arrange. This is why, for the past three years, we have run our #SocialAdvent challenge.