How YouTube's Trending Tab Works

The Trending feed is a single list of what videos are new and popular on YouTube in a viewer’s country. Some trends are predictable, like a new song from a popular artist, or a new movie trailer, while others are completely surprising. Therefore, we aim to combine popularity with novelty. This list considers view count (especially the rate of growth in views), where views are coming from, and many other signals. Therefore, the video with the highest daily view count may not necessarily be #1 on Trending.

Trending now also includes Creator On the Rise and Artist On The Rise, where each week, up-and-coming creators and artists will be featured for a full day. Learn more in our blog post.

Tips:

• Consider making broadly appealing, shareable videos. These could help you to reach new fans who might not yet know your channel.

• Keep up your channel’s momentum. Creators and Artists are eligible for On The Rise based on subscriber level (starting at 1K subs - Opal level), as well as metrics such as videos uploaded, growth in views. and growth in subscribers.

• See how often your videos appear on the trending tab by looking at YouTube Analytics Traffic sources report, clicking the ‘Browse features’ link, and looking at the data for ‘Trending’.

MYTH: "Channels get preferred placement and can buy a spot on Trending."

TRUTH: Trending is never a paid placement. It shows content that has broad appeal.

[kurianmathew]

You should make a video on how it doesn't work.

[CoinOpTV]

are you sure - seems to me the trending tab is simply just late night talk shows and music videos aka sponsored videos?

[dustinterviews]

You forgot the part about hand-curating corporate videos like late-night talkshows with 30, 000 views

[minandychoi]

What about getting rid of the trending tab and replace it with something like discover and try to feature small channels

[KristynAlexis]

Idk why but that eyeball map creeped me out 👀😂

[bruhmoment]

Youtube puts what they want in trending. Idubbz content cop was #1 and it deserved the spot it was removed basicly as soon as it got to #1

[Yoshimaniac]

The trending tab is not how YouTube should be represented. Putting huge corporate company content like SNL and Buzzfeed, along with larger YouTubers above people who are creating much better original, creative content that made YouTube great is being shoved aside for your daily skit from CollegeHumor. The trending tab is just taking the "You" out of YouTube. YouTube needs to put more content that is not as popular so it can become recognized, on the trending tab. Please like this comment so YouTube can see it

[CZsWorld]

What is the difference between Creator and Artist? How are on the rise channels selected? How do videos with very few views over a long period of time end up on trending?

[ari_lapis]

If you pay, you could be #1 on trending with 100 views

[CaptainPritika]

I have emailed regarding trending tab (India) but got no response. Indian trending tab is full of non sense videos with misguiding thumbnails, in the name of the video all it has is slideshow of pictures taken from google and some random person doing commentary the local language (mostly hindi). This has caused so many good Youtubers to make such pathetic videos on trending topics, because thats what trends in India. Please look into this. Give chance to genuine Youtubers delivering quality content rather than guys uploading 30 videos a day on particular trending topic with just slideshow of pictures.

[johngreen]

Well, this video was well edited, but not very informative
In fact it gave almost no information on how a video gets on trending.
You said "trending considers the view count...especially the rate of growth in view and where views come from among other things" and said "the video with the highest daily view count may not necessarily be number 1 on Trending"
However videos that do have high view count rate often times do not even get put towards the trending tab. The mention of "among other things" leads me to believe that there are other factors that can determine if the video will be on trending and although I understand not disclosing all factors because people may abuse it, I think that listing something other than the definition of the word Trending would help greatly in allowing creators to know the system is fair.

Above all else I think what most people want to know is if the tab is automated, manual or a combination and the real motives behind the choices. It's funny to think this website was built with a system that cherished honesty and originality, but now favors creators who lie, who follow the latest trends, and punishes originality and honesty with the fear of demonetization. It's sad really.

[xzerox]

And now it's gone, replaced by a even worse tab.

[WITTYWISDOM]

In India youtube trending page mostly features stupid or vulgar videos!!!!😅😂😂 Is it only in India or in anyone else's country too?

[hiallways]

Future: Wait, what is trending, I see

Are you talking about Explore??

[jasminegenovesi]

How are smaller creators ever supposed to compete with mega channels with 10+ million subscribers? But this is what YouTube wants, isn't it YT? Change my mind.

[StevieJoes]

As a new original content creator, I have been trying to learn how to manage getting discovered. This video series seems to be saying: Once you get popular, you'll be highlighted and promoted! It seems that existing popular channels & videos get recommended and reinforced, an echo chamber of what the viewer already watches is presented. Maybe there should be a section for things the viewer may not have known existed? Anyways, anyone have suggestions on how to get highlighted despite this? Please don't say clickbait thumbnails... which unfortunately seem to work.

[treeizure]

0:16 can't forget about talk shows that already appear on tv. And the same channels over and over again! BOY DO I LOVE TRENDING (sarcasm)

[CipriPopescu]

In Romania, trending tab it’s full of garbage tv shows promoting everything that’s low quality. I can never understand their alghoritm since it’s always the same people, same artists, same garbage every year. Youtubers, the real ones that started here from zero, are left behind...
So cut the BS! 😉

[BikersDunia]

Best of luck to all small creators out there. We will reach one day. Keep uploading and keep up the good work!

[RushZone]

The trending tab should be the most viewed videos per week or per month.