By Emeka Blast 
YouTube to Retire Global Trending Page, Introduce AI-Powered Explore Tabs in July 2025
YouTube has officially retired its global Trending page and Trending Now list as of July 21, 2025, a decade after its 2015 debut, shifting focus to personalized, AI-driven Explore tabs and category-specific charts. The move, announced on July 10, reflects a significant decline in Trending page visits over the past five years, as users increasingly discover content through algorithmic recommendations, search suggestions, YouTube Shorts, comments, and Communities, according to a YouTube blog post. The platform, with over 2 billion monthly users, aims to deliver more relevant, tailored content to its diverse global audience.
The Trending page, once a go-to hub for viral videos, music releases, and news highlights, has been replaced by YouTube Charts, which rank top-performing content in categories like Trending Music Videos, Weekly Top Podcast Shows, and Trending Movie Trailers, with plans to expand to more genres. Gaming trends will continue to feature on the dedicated Gaming Explore page. YouTube’s Chief Business Officer, Mary Ellen Coe, emphasized that the shift aligns with the rise of “micro-trends” across niche fandoms, making a single trending list outdated. “Today’s trends are far more diverse, driven by countless communities. We’re evolving to reflect how viewers naturally find content,” Coe said.
For creators, YouTube is promoting tools like the Inspiration Tab in YouTube Studio, which offers AI-generated content suggestions based on audience interests, and the Hype feature, launched in India and now expanding, allowing fans to boost emerging creators’ videos onto a platform-wide leaderboard. The Creators on the Rise program will also spotlight up-and-coming talent on YouTube’s official social media and channels. These changes aim to democratize visibility for smaller creators, addressing complaints that the Trending page often favored big brands and mainstream media.
Social media reactions on X show mixed sentiments, with @vidIQ noting the shift to “Charts and personalized feeds” as a game-changer for creators, while @CultureCrave’s post sparked nostalgia for the Trending page’s role in capturing viral moments. Some users, like @kaalicharan, praised the move for aligning with modern viewing habits, but others expressed concern that smaller creators might struggle without the centralized exposure of a Trending page.
The decision coincides with YouTube’s broader crackdown on “mass-produced, repetitious, or inauthentic” content, effective July 15, 2025, targeting AI-generated videos lacking original value to ensure a premium environment for advertisers and viewers. This reflects YouTube’s pivot toward authenticity and tailored discovery, mirroring platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
