YouTube is removing the 'Trending' tab

YouTube announced that it will completely remove its " Trending " tab, where users can see what's currently popular on the platform, within the next few weeks. With this change, the company is shifting its focus to YouTube Charts. In the new system, users will be able to see the most-watched videos by genre.

TRENDS ARE GOING, SUGGESTIONS AND LISTS ARE COMING

YouTube will guide users to discover new content through personalized recommendations and YouTube Playlists. Currently, YouTube Playlists lists the most-watched content in categories like music videos, podcasts, and movie trailers. The company has announced that it will add more categories to these playlists over time. Gaming content will remain temporarily available under the Explore > Gaming tab.

According to YouTube, when the "Trends" tab was launched in 2015, it made sense to collect viral videos in a single list. However, today, micro-trends generated and followed by different communities have gained much more importance.

YouTube notes that its "Trending" tab has seen a significant decline in visitors over the past five years, largely due to alternative discovery platforms like TikTok and Shorts. Users now learn about viral content more quickly from these platforms or search suggestions.

Content creators also frequently criticized the "Trending" tab, claiming it was unfair and failing to stand out on the platform despite high viewing figures. Independent content creators, in particular, felt it was unfair that branded accounts with content like movie trailers and TV clips easily made it onto trending lists.

Creators who use the Trending tab to find content ideas are now directed to the "Inspiration" tab in YouTube Studio. This tab offers AI-powered content recommendations. YouTube also announced that it is working on new tools to make it easier for emerging creators to be discovered. One of these tools is the "Hype" system, which allows users to vote on their favorite videos to boost their platform-wide prominence.