Unpacking the Latest YouTube Shorts Trends for Content Creators

YouTube Shorts continues to grow in popularity and to assist creators in capitalizing on this trend, YouTube has introduced a series of videos, hosted by Jade Beason, highlighting the key trends in Shorts. The latest video in this series, the third of its kind, takes a deep dive into five emerging trends on the app. Some of these trends are a little out of the ordinary, but they provide eye-opening insights into what is currently resonating with the YouTube community.

The first trend, dubbed 'Popular Media as Muse,' involves creators using trending topics and pop culture as inspiration for their Shorts. This tactic, often referred to as 'threadjacking', sees creators incorporate major news events or popular culture phenomena, such as upcoming movie releases, into their content. The second trend, termed 'The Rise of Rizz,' encompasses content that plays on the charisma, or 'rizz', of individuals to draw in romantic interest. However, this trend is more of an observation than a practical tip since predicting slang trends is a tricky business.

'Skibidi Toilet' is the third and arguably most eccentric trend. It revolves around a character who sings a Biser King song from a toilet, demonstrating Gen Z's penchant for absurdist humor. The fourth trend, 'Permission to Flex', invites creators to share their personality types and what these mean to them. This trend, an example of participatory content, makes use of the short-form format to encourage engagement. Lastly, the 'Chess' trend is seeing creators reimagine the classic game in unique settings, such as 'Chess Boxing' or comedians cracking jokes while playing chess in live streams.

While the value of Beason's insights may vary, these trends offer a glimpse into what is currently trending in the world of YouTube Shorts. As a creator, it's worth examining these trends and considering how they might apply to your own content. Whether you're using trending topics to inform your content or experimenting with absurdist humor, staying on top of these trends could help you gain traction with the Shorts format.