Twitter trends, now X Trends, are the topics an algorithm picks as popular right now on X. By default your list is tailored to who you follow, your interests and your location, so two people rarely see the same trends. You can switch to trends for a specific country or city in Explore settings on the app or with Change in the Trends box on x.com.
That personalisation is why a trend your friend mentions can be missing from your own list. Here's how X says trends are chosen, how to change what you see, and what it takes to get a topic trending.
Where to find trends on X
Trends are on the X apps for iOS and Android and on x.com. On the mobile apps, they're in the Trends section of the Explore tab. On a desktop, X shows them in several places, including the Home timeline, Notifications, search results and profile pages.
How X decides what trends
X says trends come from an algorithm that looks for topics that are popular now, rather than topics that have been popular for a while or every day. That's the detail people don't expect: a subject with steady, huge volume can fail to trend while a smaller topic with a sudden spike does.
A few more points from X's FAQ:
- The number of posts about a topic is only one of the factors the algorithm looks at.
- Related trends and hashtags are grouped together, so two spellings of the same hashtag can show up as one trend.
- Your default list is tailored to who you follow, your interests and your location.
- Big world and local news events still appear whatever your personalisation.
How to see trends for a specific country or city
Location trends show what's popular among people in one place, without your personal tailoring. Here's how to switch:
| Where | Steps X gives |
|---|---|
| x.com | Click Change in your Trends box, then keep tailored trends or choose a nearby or searched location |
| iPhone | Profile icon, Settings and privacy, Privacy and safety, Content you see, Explore settings |
| Android | Menu or profile icon, Settings and privacy, Privacy and safety, Content you see, Explore settings |
On iPhone and Android, turn off Show content in your current location, then tap Explore locations to pick a country or city. If your city isn't in the list, X says it isn't receiving enough posts from that area to build one. You can still find local posts with advanced search operators.
How to join a trend
X's advice is simple: post using the exact word or phrase shown in the trends list, including the hashtag if there is one. Clicking a trend takes you to search results for it, so you can see what people are saying before you post.
Two things to keep in mind:
- Because so many people post about a trend at once, you may not find your own post in search, but your followers will still see it.
- X filters search for quality, so behaviour that breaks its search rules can keep your posts out of results.
If you want to plan around trends rather than chase them, my guide to finding trending hashtags for free covers tools that track them across platforms.
Rules for trending topics
X says it may stop a topic appearing in trends, or hold it back until more context is available, if it:
- Breaks the X Rules.
- Contains profanity or adult or graphic references.
- Targets the privacy of victims of serious crimes, or of minors who are private figures.
X may weigh newsworthiness and public interest, so some content keeps trending. When a topic is kept out of trends, the conversation is still on X; it just isn't listed in the trending section.
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The extra context you see under trends
Some trends come with more than a name. X says it monitors trends by hand and may add context to answer why something is trending, through a representative post, a headline and description, or a curated landing page. You might also see:
| Label | What it means |
|---|---|
| Approximate post count | Roughly how many posts are tied to the trend |
| People you know | Who in your network is posting about it |
| Category | Such as Politics, Music or Entertainment, picked automatically from what the posts are about |
| Article | Attached automatically for some trends, based on the conversation |
Trends versus What's happening
X also runs a separate feature called What's happening, which replaced the older Happening Now section on x.com. It's curated content placed into your Home timeline for major national and global events, such as elections or natural disasters. Trends are algorithmic; What's happening is curated.
Looking up an old trend
Trends don't keep an archive you can scroll back through. X's tip is to search for the keyword. To narrow it to a specific day, add date operators, which I explain in how to search X by date.
My verdict
Use location trends, not your tailored list, if you want to know what's really big in a market, and check them at the same time on the days you plan to post. For a business, trends are a listening tool first. Jump in only when you've got something relevant to add, use the exact wording shown, and don't expect your post to surface in search on a busy trend; your followers are the audience that will see it.
Trends and tags go hand in hand, so I've also covered how many hashtags to use on X.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my X trends different from someone else's?
X tailors trends by default to who you follow, your interests and your location, so two accounts usually see different lists.
How do I change my trends location on X?
On x.com click Change in the Trends box. On the app go to Settings and privacy, Privacy and safety, Content you see, Explore settings, turn off Show content in your current location and tap Explore locations.
Why can't I find my city in X trends?
X says that means it isn't receiving enough posts from that area to create a trends list. You can still search local posts with advanced search operators.
Does the number of posts decide what trends?
Only in part. X says post count is just one factor, and its algorithm favours topics that are popular now over ones that have been popular for a while.
