When a topic or hashtag is labeled as trending, it means that it’s getting a lot of attention and being shared across a platform at a high rate. Trends are determined by algorithms that take into account how quickly the content is being discussed, who is sharing it, and other factors that influence its popularity. Trending is different from viral content, which achieves massive attention in a short period of time and sustains that popularity for longer.

Social media platforms use algorithms to determine what’s trending in order to show users the most relevant topics at any given moment. These algorithms take into consideration a variety of factors, including velocity (how quickly the topic is being discussed), who in the network is Posting about it, and other data points like location. Trends can reflect localized interests, cultural and other events, holidays, online campaigns and challenges, or current news.

On Facebook, trends are displayed on the left side of the homepage or within the Explore tab. The topics are grouped into categories, such as World, Entertainment, Sports and Politics. Users can also filter by location and personalization to tailor their experience. Social media managers and brands can leverage trends to gain awareness among audiences and attract new followers.

YouTube offers a similar feature that shows viewers trending videos on their home page. The videos are not sponsored and can include anything from a song to a viral video to an event. Those looking to be featured in the “Trending” section are encouraged to create videos that are relatable, broadly appealing, and shareable, according to YouTube.

When it comes to determining what’s trending, Google takes a slightly different approach than other platforms. Its Trends tool displays search terms that are popular at any given time, based on the average number of searches per minute for each term over a certain period of time. The trend graph is color coded to indicate whether the topic is hot, warm, or cold.

If you’re logged in to a Google account, the Trends results can be personalized to include data from your own search history and other Google products. The data used to determine trends is normalized, meaning that it does not include searches made with special characters, multiple searches by the same person, or infrequent search terms.

X users can find trends on the X for iOS app, X for Android, and x.com. They are listed in the “For You” and “Trending” sections of the sidebar, as well as in the Explore tab when signed in to a desktop or mobile device.

The Trends features are an important tool for identifying the topics your audience is interested in, and for creating relevant content to engage with them. However, it’s crucial to use caution when discussing sensitive topics, as inappropriate language or overt advertising can cause your content to be filtered out of the Trends feed. In addition, it’s important to be aware of the terms and conditions that govern your X account, as these can influence what trends you’re able to see.