Trending is a social media term that describes something popular on the Internet. It is considered trending when a specific topic goes viral on any social media platform, including TikTok, Instagram, X, and others., and garners attention.

To become trending on social media, a hashtag, video, reel, meme, or a keyword must go viral so it receives more engagement and impressions on social media platforms. A trending topic appears on Explore pages, and users participate in trending topics to boost their engagement. Many influencers use this tactic to get more followers.

Example

For example, when Taylor Swift announced her Eras Tour, a hashtag of her song, Cruel Summer, went viral on the Internet, with users making videos with that sound.