YouTube Retires “Trending” Tab: The Age of Personalization🎯
YouTube will permanently remove its “Trending” (also known as “Trending Now”). This feature in 2015, has long served as a gateway to viral videos
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YouTube Retires “Trending” Tab: Welcome to the Age of Personalization 🎯
📅 Removal Date & Background
YouTube will permanently remove its “Trending” (also known as “Trending Now”) tab on July 21, 2025. This feature, introduced in 2015, has long served as a gateway to viral videos—but its time has now passed.
❓ Why Was Trending Removed?
1. 🔻 Steep Decline in Traffic
Over the past five years, engagement with the Trending page has fallen sharply as users discover content through Shorts, search suggestions, personalized feeds, and even competing platforms like TikTok.
2. Micro‑Trends over Mass Trends
YouTube acknowledged that today’s trends are fragmented—driven by niche communities rather than a small set of viral hits. A single “Trending” list no longer reflects modern viewing habits.
3. Rise of Personalized Discovery
Users now rely more on personalized recommendations, AI‑driven feeds, and contextual browsing rather than a one‑size‑fits‑all Trending page.
🔄 What’s Replacing It? YouTube Charts & Smarter Recommendations
👑 YouTube Charts: Category-Based Rankings
The old Trending page is being replaced by YouTube Charts, which offer category-specific charts such as:
- 💽 Trending Music Videos
- 🎙 Weekly Podcast Charts
- 🎬 Movie Trailer Rankings
- 🎮 Gaming content available via the Gaming Explore page
Additional categories are expected to roll out in the coming months.
🤖 Personalized Recommendations Take Center Stage
The core of video discovery has shifted to AI-powered, user-specific suggestions. Viewers now encounter content relevant to their interests directly via the Home feed and Shorts shelf.
✨ Creator Tools: Inspiration Tab & Hype
To help creators pivot, YouTube is boosting features like:
- Inspiration Tab in YouTube Studio — offering AI-generated content ideas
- Hype system — promoting emerging creators via boost-eligible content
🎬 The Shift in 2025 YouTube
Change
Impact
AI-Based Discovery
Recommendations become more context-sensitive and emotionally aware
Democratized Reach
Viral success shifts from view counts to engagement and relevance
Category Spotlight
Creators can target precise niches with Charts
✅ Practical Tips for Creators
- Double down on Shorts + Long-form ContentUse both formats to maximize visibility across personalized feeds and Charts.
- Boost Viewer EngagementPrioritize call-to-actions (comments, likes, shares) that fuel YouTube’s satisfaction metrics.
- Target Niche AudiencesAnalyze community behavior and align your content with audience-specific interests to benefit from personalization.
🔍 Conclusion
The retirement of the Trending tab signals a pivotal shift: we’re moving from unified trends to highly personalized viewing experiences. YouTube creators and marketers should:
- Embrace category-based visibility via Charts
- Tailor content for micro‑communities
- Leverage AI-powered tools like Inspiration and Hype
By adapting to these trends, creators can thrive—no longer competing for a spot on Trending, but connecting meaningfully within niche audiences.