As the new year nears, social media platforms are preparing for an influx of activity - Twitter, for example, says they're expecting around 17.9 million tweets related to the 2017 celebrations.
And while the easiest way to tap into the conversation is through hashtags (Twitter recommends #newyear, #NYE2017, #NYE, #NewYearsEve, #newyearsresolution, #NewYearNewYou, #balldrop), there's now an abundance of options to express your celebratory spirit, with a heap of video and image-enhancing functions available.
Here are some of the New Year-specific tools on offer across the major platforms.
Facebook hasn't gone all out with their expressive options for the New Year, though there are a few to consider.
First off, there's the addition of their new text-recognition triggered fireworks graphics on Facebook's desktop version.
Facebook has a hidden trick for status updates using the words "Happy New Year!"
- Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) December 21, 2016
h/t @absoluut pic.twitter.com/TrOIARJItF
It's not much, but it's interesting in it's capacity, using text-recognition to trigger an event (note: when testing this last week it worked, but it's not working for me now - it's possible that it will be re-enabled after midnight on the 31st).
Facebook haven't introduced any new profile frames for the occasion, but you can use the many custom sticker packs and tools available to spruce up your photos.
Really, there's not a heap specifically available for New Year's - but then again, Facebook has put more focus on other options.
Messenger
Facebook's added some more engaging and interesting tools to Messenger, with the addition of new masks and image enhancements within the new Messenger camera option.
When you open up Messenger you'll see this notification on the shutter button.
Tap on it and you'll be taken to the Snapchat-like Messenger camera, with a range of new tools to help mark the occasion.
Facebook's added a set of new New Year's masks, each of which is interesting, though they're very similar to Snapchat, if not slightly less interactive.
Some also have video elements, but they don't respond to you opening your mouth or raising your eyebrows, they just roll on application.
But more interestingly, Facebook's also added a few examples of their new 'reactive filters' which respond to extended actions, like waving your hand across the screen.
These newer options are where Facebook will likely make bigger movements in 2017 - as we've noted previously, copying Snapchat's features is one thing, but if Facebook can build their own better, more interesting tools along similar lines, that could give them the jump on Snapchat and bring more users across to see what's on offer, keeping them away from the yellow ghost.
Within Facebook's other big app, they've also added some new options to Instagram Stories for the occasion, with image overlays and themed masks.
These are an extension of the Stories holiday update released just before Christmas, and they're fairly basic image additions - no video altering masks or action-based tools.
Twitter has added some New Years-themed stickers to help users share their celebratory efforts.
The stickers are location-focused, though they're not triggered by proximity - as you can see, I can use any of the options available here.
It's a relatively minor addition - they've also put a call out to prompt users to "Go Live" via the new streaming through Twitter option.
Wherever your New Year's celebrations take you, share it with the world. #GoLive pic.twitter.com/QM34ewSLRK
- Twitter (@twitter) December 29, 2016
Snapchat
Snapchat doesn't appear to have added anything specific for New Year's (at least in my region), though they did announce the addition of group chats, Scissors and Paintbrush for Memories just before Christmas.
Also, they do have this Lens which enables you to look like a dog in the snow.
There are a couple of simple Geofilters available to mark the occasion, but nothing standout or over the top.
Note: Snapchat has actually also added a Hello Kitty "Happy New Year" Lens, as noted by Rebecca Viner:
@adhutchinson @socialmedia2day Just read your post & wanted to let you know @Snapchat have added a "happy new year" x Hello Kitty filter :) pic.twitter.com/iEbl7fdYuG
- Rebecca Viner (@sparkedpassion) December 31, 2016
Really, overall the options on offer for celebrating New Year's on social seem much the same as the general feeling about the event this time around - that people are more just looking forward to getting it over with, as opposed to cheering 2016's end.
That said, there are obviously a heap of ways for you or your business to mark the occasion - you could create a Twitter Moment celebrating your best content of 2016, for example, or tag your most engaged community members or customers in a New Year's post thanking them for their patronage (as an aside, I kind of hoped Facebook might bring back the Your Business Story video option from earlier in the year to help Pages showcase their 2016 achievements, but no sign of it at this stage).
In spite of the fatigue that's settled in regarding the many news events of the past 12 months, hopefully you get a chance to take a moment and reflect on where you're at and what 2017 holds at some stage.
Thumbnail image via Pixabay