YouTube has announced that it will soon retire its long-standing "Trending" and "Trending Now" tabs. These will be replaced by curated category-based charts and algorithm-powered personalised content feeds.
The change reflects shifting user habits and aims to offer more relevant video discovery across the platform.
Why is YouTube removing the Trending tab?
Originally launched in 2015, the Trending section was designed to highlight popular videos from across the platform. However, YouTube says users now discover content through a variety of other methods, including Shorts, Home feeds, and topic-specific searches.
Due to this shift, general engagement with the Trending tab has significantly declined. YouTube is therefore phasing out the feature in favour of content discovery methods that are more tailored to individual viewer interests.
What is replacing the Trending page?
Instead of a single global list, YouTube will introduce updated category-specific charts. These new features will focus on what is trending within particular content areas, including:
- Top music videos
- Weekly trending podcasts
- Popular film trailers
These charts will be updated regularly and will eventually expand to include more categories. Gaming videos, for example, will continue to appear under the existing Gaming Explore page. YouTube believes this targeted approach offers a more accurate view of what users are actually watching and engaging with.
Focus on personalised discovery
With the removal of the Trending tab, YouTube will rely more heavily on personalised recommendations delivered through the Home and Explore sections. These feeds are powered by algorithms that suggest videos based on each user’s watch history, preferences, and current trends.
For users in Malaysia and other regions, this change may lead to more relevant and localised content being promoted, rather than just globally viral videos.
What this means for creators
For creators, the focus now shifts from aiming for broad, viral appeal to creating content that resonates within specific interest groups.
Rather than competing for visibility on a single Trending list, creators will benefit from producing videos that perform well in relevant categories.
YouTube’s Studio tools will continue to support creators with features like the Inspiration Tab, which helps identify trending content ideas.
Tools such as Hype campaigns and category charts will also aid creators in reaching the right audience more effectively.
Do you think replacing the Trending tab with charts and tailored feeds will improve your experience on YouTube? Or will you miss the one-stop look at what’s popular? Let us know your thoughts. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates.
COMMENTS