New Delhi– After nearly a decade of spotlighting viral hits, breaking news, and top music releases, YouTube is officially phasing out its Trending Page, a move that reflects evolving viewer habits and the platform’s changing priorities.
Launched in 2015, the “Trending Now” section was once a hub for discovering what was hot on YouTube in real time. But on July 21, both the Trending Page and Trending Now tab will be permanently removed, the Google-owned company announced in a blog post.
“YouTube has evolved significantly over the past 10 years, and so has the way users discover and consume content,” the platform noted.
Shift Toward Personalized and Category-Based Discovery
As audience preferences move toward more personalized and niche content, YouTube is shifting its focus to YouTube Charts, a section that highlights category-specific rankings such as:
Trending Music Videos
Weekly Top Podcasts
Trending Movie Trailers
YouTube said more curated categories are expected to be added soon.
For personalized discovery, users are encouraged to explore content through:
The Explore tab
Creator channels
The Subscriptions feed
YouTube also emphasized the growing importance of its algorithm-driven recommendations, which suggest videos based on individual viewing history and interests.
Tools for Creators: Staying Ahead of Trends
For creators aiming to stay current with audience preferences, YouTube recommends using the Inspiration tab in YouTube Studio. This tool provides insights into trending topics and content suggestions tailored to their audience.
The company said the decision to sunset the Trending section reflects shifts in user behavior, with most people now relying on personalized feeds rather than browsing a general trending list.
Originally launched to capture the zeitgeist of online culture—whether it was viral sensations, major music drops, or breaking headlines—the Trending tab has gradually become less relevant in a landscape dominated by targeted content and sophisticated recommendation systems.
