No More Trending Tab: YouTube Introduces Smarter Content Discovery

YouTube has officially announced that it will remove the “Trending” page and the “Trending Now” list from its platform. Instead, the company will shift its focus toward topic-specific charts under the YouTube Charts section. As a result, users will no longer see a single, unified list of trending videos. Instead, popular content will be showcased in specific categories through these new thematic charts.

According to a report by TechCrunch, YouTube says this change better reflects how users currently discover trending content. When the Trending page launched in 2015, it provided a simple list of popular videos everyone was talking about. However, due to the growing diversity of viewers and creators, today’s trends are more fragmented and often formed within smaller, niche communities.

What Will Replace the Trending Page?

In the new format, YouTube’s topic-based charts will include categories like:

• Trending Music Videos

• Top Weekly Podcasts

• Trending Movie Trailers

YouTube also announced that more categories will be added in the future.

YouTube’s Explanation on Showcasing Popular Content

In a blog post, YouTube stated:

“Alongside our chart-based presentations of popular content, we will continue to recommend videos through personalized suggestions based on what users are likely to enjoy. This allows us to surface a broader range of content that is more relevant and natural for each viewer.”

YouTube explained that current trends are often sparked by a variety of videos, driven by different fan groups. This has led to the emergence of smaller, more niche trends that don’t always make it to a general trending list.

Furthermore, the platform notes that users now discover trending content through various methods such as personalized recommendations, search, and even comments. While the “Trending” tab used to be one of the primary ways to find popular videos, most users now rely on algorithm-driven suggestions. YouTube also revealed that traffic to the Trending page has dropped significantly over the past five years.

A Shift in Line with YouTube’s Evolution

YouTube emphasized that this move aligns with the platform’s evolution over the past decade. In 2015, YouTube was primarily a hub for amateur videos. Today, it hosts a vast range of high-quality short and long-form content created by independent creators and major media outlets alike.

Finally, YouTube reassured creators that it remains committed to offering tools that help them identify popular topics among their audiences. A new feature called “Hype” is also in development, which will allow creators to give their new and trending videos more visibility.

These changes will begin rolling out in the coming weeks.

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