In a major shift, YouTube has officially phased out its Trending and Trending Now tabs as of July 2025. This marks the end of an era where a single list showcased the most popular content on the platform. Now, YouTube is turning its focus toward personalized recommendations and genre-specific charts that align better with individual viewer interests.
With over two billion users worldwide, YouTube’s move is designed to reflect how people actually discover content today through personalized feeds, Shorts, and search behavior, rather than a one-size-fits-all trending list.
Why the YouTube Trending Page Lost Its Relevance
Over the past few years, the popularity of the Trending tab has steadily declined. Most viewers now find content through YouTube’s Home feed, search, or while scrolling through YouTube Shorts. These behavior-driven discovery paths proved to be faster, more relevant, and aligned with viewers’ real-time interests.
Moreover, the manually curated Trending page struggled to reflect diverse preferences across languages, regions, and genres. For many, the content featured in the Trending section felt disconnected from their usual viewing habits. In today’s dynamic digital environment, static lists simply can’t keep up.
What’s Replacing the Trending Tab?
In place of the general Trending list, YouTube has rolled out topic-based charts. These include sections for:
- Trending music videos
- Top podcasts of the week
- Popular gaming content
- New movie trailers
These new charts are more targeted and timely, reflecting regional and genre-specific interest. They aim to help users discover what’s hot in the areas they care about.
The Explore tab is getting a redesign. It now features clearer categories like fashion, tech, wellness, and local trends, offering a more intuitive browsing experience based on user interests.
Shorts and Algorithmic Discovery Lead the Way
The rise of YouTube Shorts has evolved content discovery. With its vertical video format and infinite scroll, Shorts introduces users to new creators and trending topics effortlessly, often without them even searching.
Behind the scenes, YouTube’s recommendation engine uses machine learning and user behavior, such as watch history, regional trends, and engagement patterns, to deliver highly personalized suggestions. This shift makes the old static Trending page obsolete in a world of real-time, tailored content delivery.
Empowering Creators Through AI and Community Tools
Alongside changes for viewers, YouTube is rolling out new tools for creators. The Inspiration tab provides personalized content ideas based on audience interests, highlighting trending topics and recommending themes that resonate with viewers.
The platform is also testing features like Hype (launched in India), which lets fans boost visibility for emerging creators. Meanwhile, programs like Creators on the Rise continue to spotlight promising new channels through the Explore section and other official placements.
These tools are designed to help smaller creators gain exposure, not just through viral hits but through strategic alignment with viewer interests.
The Future of Discovery Is Personal
YouTube’s decision to sunset the Trending page is part of a broader industry shift. Much like TikTok and Spotify, YouTube now prioritizes content relevance over mass appeal.
By focusing on individualized discovery, YouTube is helping users engage with content that truly reflects their interests, while giving creators better opportunities to grow their communities.
In this new era, discovery is no longer about what’s popular for everyone; it’s about what’s meaningful for you.
