Trending is a feature on social media platforms that highlights keywords or topics gaining popularity at a given moment. It’s a list of the most popular subjects that are being discussed on the platform at that time and is displayed prominently in the sidebar or on the homepage (think TikTok’s FYP). Trending topics can be related to breaking news, viral memes, local events, or even online campaigns and challenges. They can be influenced by users, influencers, or the media.
Trends are created using algorithms that analyze the most popular keywords and topics currently being discussed on a specific social network. The algorithms then take into account user engagement (likes, comments, shares) and search data to determine which topics are gaining the most interest in real-time. Once a topic meets a certain threshold of engagement, it is added to the trending list and appears on the home page or in an Explore tab. Some platforms also tailor what trends appear to each user based on their location, what they like or follow, and who they follow.
As a result, some trends are more popular than others, which may explain why one channel is featured more often than another. But it’s still important to keep in mind that being listed as a trend is not a guarantee of visibility or engagement, especially when compared to the millions of other channels on YouTube.
Aside from boosting brand awareness, creating trend-inspired content can help you build a following and engage your audience. It can also be a great way to promote new products or offers. Trends can change quickly, so be sure to check back on a regular basis to see what’s hot and what’s not.
YouTube’s Trending section is usually a goldmine for creators. But some feel the company is biased toward highlighting videos from its most well-known stars, and that other content is being passed over. YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki addressed this in a recent letter to creators, promising to add 50 percent more trending content from outside of the company’s top 25 channels.
Nevertheless, many creators feel the company isn’t doing enough to address safety concerns surrounding the site. For example, Felix “PewDiePie” Kjellberg has made headlines for posting anti-Semitic content, yet he has appeared on YouTube’s Trending list 45 times in the United States but only once in Canada.
But there are other factors that influence whether a video makes it to the Trending section, including how recently the video was uploaded. For this reason, it’s best to submit a video as early in the day as possible. And while it’s not guaranteed that a video will make the Trending list, creating a video that’s relevant to current news and events is more likely to get noticed than one that’s more political or controversial. For this reason, creating video tutorials, celebrity interviews, and other timely content can be an effective strategy for getting your videos noticed. It’s also a good idea to include trending hashtags in your videos, as these will help them be more discoverable.