Trending is when a hashtag, topic, or video receives more visibility and engagement than usual on a social media platform like Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook. The trends are based on algorithms that analyze the interests, discussions, and collective attention of a social media community at a particular time.

Using social media trends, brands and influencers can boost their visibility, generate awareness, and drive engagement with their followers. Trends on social media are constantly changing, so it’s important to keep up with the latest ones in order to maximize your reach and visibility.

The trending topics on Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok are a result of user interactions and searches. They are analyzed to identify the most popular topics and keywords at a given moment. Once a certain threshold is reached, the trend will be displayed in the platform’s “Trending” section or on its homepage (e.g. X’s FYP on TikTok). Trending is a great way to stay up-to-date on what people are talking about and focusing their attention on at any given moment.

When a video or a hashtag becomes a trend, it is usually accompanied by a visual element that captures the attention of viewers and increases the likelihood of clicks and engagement. For example, a meme with an image or video of a popular celebrity can easily become a trend simply by sharing the image on social media. Other examples of trending content include breaking news stories, viral videos, and upcoming events or holidays.

In the case of YouTube, trending is determined by the platform’s algorithm and focuses on content that has wide appeal to its viewers. This could be a new music video from a well-known artist, a funny or engaging challenge video, or a vlog from a YouTuber who is on the ground at an exciting event. YouTube also avoids featuring clickbait or sensationalist content that violates its community guidelines.

The most effective way to get your video on YouTube’s trending list is to use a unique hashtag that has not been used before and to ensure it is included in the title of your video. Additionally, make sure the hashtag is visible to users and incorporated into a call-to-action. For example, the Coca-Cola ShareACoke campaign was a huge success because it had an appealing call-to-action that encouraged people to purchase Coke products with their friends’ names printed on them and then post photos of themselves drinking these products on their social media accounts using #ShareACoke.

It’s important to remember that trends can change in a matter of minutes. To ensure that your video remains on the trending list, make sure it continues to receive a significant amount of views and engagement and engage in conversations about it. It’s also essential to be aware that if you do decide to post about a trending topic, it is important to be as authentic as possible. Trying to game the system by posting unrelated content can not only harm your brand but may cause you to be removed from the trending lists altogether.