We’ve all heard some of the statistics about YouTube and the fact that there are millions of hours worth of footage uploaded every year. YouTube has become the second-biggest search engine in the world and that isn’t even one of its main functions. Fair to say that it has become mainstream and a part of many peoples’ daily lives, but certain niches always drive video platforms like this forward.
Many of the most-viewed YouTube videos are based around music and comedy but there are some other niches where people tend to go further in-depth on certain subjects. What’s massive this year and what are the trends on YouTube?
Gaming Remains Top
Gaming has been popular for decades and since games became so much more immersive and digital there has been an even bigger demand for content on YouTube.
Esports is one of the most electric and rapidly growing niches on YouTube and definitely be a trend in 2024. Competitive gaming has evolved from small-scale events to huge international tournaments, drawing millions of viewers both online and in person. Along with other platforms (Twitch is the biggest for streaming) YouTube serves as a home for this fast-paced world, where fans flock to watch highlights and even connect with individual players.
League of Legends has the highest level of concurrent viewers on a stream and is one of the biggest esports games. Content around this hobby can vary hugely and some people focus on the actual gameplay while others are focused on the competitive esports scene. Like football or other sports, it has become something people just observe as a spectator sport and gamble on as they may on other sports. Channels are therefore providing things like previews and discussing the upcoming matchups with League of Legends odds and other preview information available for players.
Besides the tournaments themselves, streamers have built thriving communities on the platform with content ranging from high-skill gameplay to casual sessions filled with humor and commentary. PewDiePie was one of the first YouTubers to get this incredible level of success and following – he and Ninja have created not just content but entire brands around their gaming personas
Music
Without its musical offerings maybe YouTube would never have become so massive. A lot of the very top YouTube videos are music videos or live performances that people watch time and time again. The potential for repeat views (you don’t just listen to a song once if you like it) means that some of the YouTube view counts on songs are astronomical.
It is not uncommon for big hit songs to hit billions of views as people watch them time and time again. People even use YouTube downloaders to be able to take live performances and songs to listen to without using their data or when offline.
Bands and artists can use their YouTube channels in a fascinating way to show off live performances or even rare versions of songs. Content platforms like this help people to connect with their customers or fans and even smaller bands may build up a following by focusing on YouTube videos. The algorithms may even help to recommend videos to fans based on what they are into. People are trying to understand the algorithm better to reach new audiences and YouTube marketing is now a big industry just like SEO and other digital marketing methods.
Lifestyle Videos
A category that is hard to define…lifestyle videos. They are basically about everyday life and rely on a YouTuber’s personality for entertainment. Why so popular? They’re certainly relatable.
Vlogging (as it is often called) continues to be among the top niches on YouTube and other social media sites. Of course, this category is broad, encompassing everything from daily routines and travel diaries to cooking shows and personal reflections. Vloggers like Casey Neistat and Emma Chamberlain have captured the essence of everyday life in a way that feels both relatable and aspirational.
There’s an intimacy to vlogs that is hard to match and viewers get to follow along as creators share their thoughts and adventures. Sometimes this can just be the sort of thing they’re doing in their daily lives. For many, it feels like catching up with a friend, which is precisely why this niche remains so popular, and people may find lifestyle vloggers or YouTubers with the same kinds of interests that they have.
Conclusion
Some types of videos will always be popular. We’ve all been sent video links to some of the funny and viral videos that YouTube has to offer. Often these come out of nowhere and funny viral trends can come and go in a matter of weeks. Remember the ice bucket challenge? This was for a great cause and some of the videos racked up millions of views.
However, some of the most popular niches have a more enduring appeal. Gaming is one of the biggest hobbies in the world and these videos can be the most popular channels out there as people love to watch others playing top games and even see their reactions.