The way we build, engage with, and monetize communities is on the verge of a complete transformation. By 2035, the balance of power will shift away from centralized platforms and mega-influencers.
Here’s what’s coming:
✅ Influence will shift from individuals to decentralized, community-powered economies.
✅ AI will create influencers, manage communities, and even interact with audiences.
✅ Brands will no longer advertise to communities—they’ll invest in them directly.
✅ Virtual influencers will evolve from scripted personas to AI-powered engagement leaders.
✅ Monetization will be driven by ownership (tokens, equity, and IP), not just sponsorships.
✅ The metaverse will be a fully functional economy where communities work, create, and spend.
Let’s break it down.
1. The End of the Solo Influencer: Community-First Influence Will Dominate
The influencer model we know today—where an individual builds a following and monetizes through brand deals—will not survive the next decade.
By 2035, individual influence will be replaced by community-first models, where entire groups collectively own, monetize, and distribute influence.
🔥 Key Shifts Coming:
From “Influencers” to “Community-Owned Influence”
Instead of brands paying an individual creator, they’ll invest in entire communities that collectively decide which creators get funded.
Example: A sneaker brand won’t pay one influencer; they’ll issue tokens to a sneakerhead community, allowing them to vote on what products to promote.
Micro-Communities Will Outperform Mega-Influencers
The most valuable audiences will be small, engaged communities rather than mass followings.
Example: A 2,000-member Web3 gaming group will hold more power than a YouTuber with 10M passive followers.
Community-Led Monetization Will Replace Ads
Fans will co-own influencer brands. Instead of buying from influencers, fans will hold equity in the products they promote.
Example: Instead of Kylie Jenner launching a beauty brand alone, her top 1,000 fans could hold NFT-based shares, giving them profit participation and governance rights.
💡 Prediction: By 2035, 90% of brand sponsorships will flow into community-owned ecosystems rather than paying individual influencers.
2. AI-Powered Influencers & Community Managers Will Run Digital Spaces
Right now, AI influencers are scripted, pre-planned, and limited. In 10 years, they will be autonomous, self-learning personalities capable of:
🚀 What AI Influencers Will Do by 2035:
✅ Host live product demos for brands 24/7 (without needing human input).
✅ Engage directly with community members via hyper-personalized AI interactions.
✅ Adapt their personality and style based on real-time audience sentiment.
✅ Sell products in ways no human can—by combining biometric data, emotional AI, and real-time market insights.
🎭 What’s Next for AI Virtual Influencers?
Brands Will Launch Their Own AI-Powered Avatars
Every major brand will have its own AI-driven brand ambassador that interacts with customers like a real human.
Example: A Louis Vuitton AI influencer could help customers style outfits in real-time, adjusting recommendations based on trends.
AI Will “Age” and Evolve Over Time
Virtual influencers will become living personas that adapt over years, evolving their backstory and personality based on audience feedback.
Example: An AI character might “grow up” with its audience, mirroring cultural shifts and changing social norms.
AI-Powered Community Hosts Will Become the Norm
Large online communities will be partially managed by AI, ensuring engagement remains high without human admins.
Example: AI moderators in Reddit-like forums could detect trending topics and automatically promote them.
💡 Prediction: By 2035, 50% of all influencer content will be AI-generated and AI-led. Humans will still hold power, but AI will be the driving force behind engagement.
3. Web3 Will Enable “Engage-to-Earn” Community Monetization
By 2035, no one will participate in online communities for free. Instead, engagement itself will become a monetizable asset.
💰 The New Monetization Model:
✅ Members will earn tokens for engaging in communities.
✅ Influencers will own stake in the brands they promote.
✅ Brands will pay communities—not platforms—for marketing.
🔥 How Monetization Will Work in 2035:
From Passive Fandom to Community Equity
Fans will no longer just follow influencers—they will own equity in their success.
Example: A fan might buy 1% equity in an influencer’s brand via NFTs, earning a cut of their sponsorship deals.
Brands Will “Rent” Access to Engaged Communities
Companies will no longer pay for social media ads—they’ll buy access to engaged communities via tokenized sponsorships.
Example: Instead of buying Facebook ads, Adidas might issue 10,000 limited-edition digital sneakers, available only to NFT-holding sneaker enthusiasts.
“Engage-to-Earn” Will Be the New Normal
Instead of scrolling social media for free, users will earn tokens for their time, engagement, and content contributions.
Example: A Discord community might reward active users with crypto tokens, redeemable for real-world goods or exclusive experiences.
💡 Prediction: By 2035, 80% of online ad revenue will flow into community-based monetization models rather than traditional ads.
4. The Metaverse Will Become the Default Home for Communities
Forget static Discord chats—by 2035, online communities will live inside immersive, 3D metaverse spaces where members interact in real-time, lifelike environments.
🌍 How the Metaverse Will Reshape Community Building:
✅ Every major brand will have a persistent, interactive 3D world for their fans.
✅ Communities will meet inside VR environments instead of using chat apps.
✅ Influencers will host virtual concerts, events, and experiences inside the metaverse.
🔥 What’s Coming:
Virtual Town Halls for Community Governance
Instead of forums, communities will hold DAO-based meetings inside VR spaces, voting on community decisions in real-time.
Product Demos & Virtual Shopping Will Become the Norm
Instead of watching an influencer review a product, you’ll try it in a 3D world before making a purchase.
Hyper-Personalized Brand Experiences
Brands will create customized metaverse stores where AI-driven assistants provide tailored recommendations based on your shopping habits.
💡 Prediction: By 2035, over 50% of all brand interactions will happen inside metaverse environments.
Final Thought: The Future is Community-Owned
By 2035, the power of influence, commerce, and engagement will shift entirely toward community-driven economies. The most successful brands, creators, and influencers won’t be solo entities—they’ll be deeply integrated into decentralized, co-owned communities.
The future belongs to those who understand:
✅ Ownership > Fandom
✅ Community-Driven Influence > Individual Influence
✅ AI-Enhanced Engagement > Algorithmic Feeds
✅ Tokenized Monetization > Ad-Based Models
What do you think? Will the future of influence be AI-driven, community-owned, or something else? Drop your thoughts. 🚀
