Trending is a term used to describe popular topics or keywords on social media that are receiving a lot of attention at a given moment. These trends are identified through algorithms that analyze the activity on the platform including likes, comments, and shares to determine which content or topics are getting the most engagement from users. Once a certain threshold of activity is reached, the topic or keyword will be displayed as “trending” and prominently featured on the homepage or in the search results (think TikTok’s FYP).

The term trend can also refer to styles or fashions that are gaining popularity at a particular time (e.g., a new color of lipstick or the latest clothing line). Trends can be localized to specific communities and contexts or have a global impact depending on the reach and influence of the platform.

Social media platforms typically display trends in a sidebar on their main pages or within the Explore tab based on geographic location and who you follow. Some platforms may even have a separate section for trends that are personalized for each user and account. For example, Twitter’s Trending tab shows you a list of trends that are relevant to your interests or that are being discussed by people who you follow.

Some businesses or brands try to capitalize on trends by posting about them on their own or through their accounts to generate engagement and visibility. Others use influencers to spread the word about their products or services through hashtags or other means. However, using a trend for the wrong reasons could lead to a backlash from your audience or a suspension of your account (e.g., Twitter has cracked down on “trend abuse” in the past).

Trends are influenced by a variety of factors including current events and news stories, viral content, holidays, popular culture, or even online campaigns and challenges. Whether or not they are legitimate, trends can have an impact on the world at large, so it’s important to understand them and take steps to evaluate their credibility before you respond to them.

If you’re interested in seeing what’s trending on YouTube, click ‘explore’ and then ‘trending’ to view the top videos. This can provide you with inspiration for the kinds of marketing videos you might want to create and share. You can also use tools such as Ahrefs to search for trending keywords or content based on various performance metrics. For example, a tool such as SiteChecker’s keyword rank checker can give you an idea of what keywords are performing well and have high search volume, which could help you to decide which ones to target in your marketing efforts. A tool such as BuzzSumo can also help you identify popular content in your industry, which is a good place to start for ideas.