When a hashtag or topic becomes so popular on Twitter that it gets into the trending section, everyone wants to know what’s going on. Whether it’s an earthquake in South America or a model wearing a revealing swimsuit, a trending topic lets the world know what’s on people’s minds right now. But what is the process behind deciding which topics rise to the top of the trending section? And how does it differ from a normal Google search?
The trending feature first appeared on Twitter as a way to highlight hashtags that were popular at a given time. The trending section shows topics that have generated a lot of interest on the site, with Twitter analyzing the amount of searches for a specific topic and the number of people talking about it. Twitter’s algorithm then ranks the most popular trends according to those criteria and displays them on their homepage. Many other social media platforms have similar features, such as Facebook’s “Trending” list which highlights topics that are popular with the site’s users.
It’s important to note that while trending is a great way to see what’s on people’s minds, it isn’t a good indicator of what’s going on in the real world. In fact, trends can be misleading or even inaccurate, especially when it comes to things like politics and celebrities. This is because Twitter’s algorithms tend to favor trends that have a sudden spike in popularity over those with a gradual growth, and also tend to give more weight to hashtags that are widely used by the entire population as opposed to those that are a local phenomenon.
In addition, trends can be manipulated by companies looking to gain exposure on the site. For example, Burger King UK tried to use a tweet about gender inequality to boost their visibility on Twitter, but the move backfired when it was criticized for being insensitive and inappropriate. Twitter has attempted to curb this kind of manipulation by changing their trends algorithm, but it’s still possible for users to manipulate the trending section if they want to.
For businesses, trends are a great way to gain visibility on the site and increase engagement rates. After all, people who retweet or reply to your content are more likely to click on your links, follow your account, and watch your videos. However, it’s important to remember that being a trending topic is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to growing your business. It’s equally, if not more important, to focus on creating quality content that speaks to your audience and drives real engagement on the site. If you can do that, you’ll soon be on your way to becoming a trending topic of your own! And who knows what that could lead to?