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Key Takeaways from YouTube's 2024 Global Trends Report
As we wrap up 2024, YouTube’s Global Culture and Trends Report gives us a glimpse into the year’s biggest cultural moments and offers insight into what’s next. From trending topics and top creators to the most influential songs across several countries, the report highlighted the elements shaping digital culture today.
Here is a rundown of the key takeaways from their report:
In 2024, digital-native franchises were the stars of the show, driven by passionate creators and dedicated fanbases. One standout is Amazing Digital Circus, an indie animation series by Gooseworx on Glitch’s YouTube channel. With only three episodes, it became one of the year’s biggest cultural hits, appearing on trending lists in eight countries. Fans played a huge role in its success by creating animations, music videos, and explainers, driving over 25 billion views for related content.
Another success story is Dress to Impress, a Roblox-based fashion game released in late 2023. It quickly gained popularity through gameplay videos, real-life competitions, and fan art, racking up over 4 billion views in 2024. These examples show how digital-first franchises are changing the game, competing with and often outshining traditional media.
Legacy franchises are adapting to the digital world and thriving. The Paris 2024 Olympics appeared on trending lists in 10 countries, with highlights, memes, and creator-led coverage driving engagement. In Brazil, the channel CazeTV even streamed parts of the games, showing how traditional events are finding new life online.
Hollywood also made it into the trend report. The Deadpool & Wolverine franchise embraced YouTube trends with the Deadpool dance on Shorts and a Fortnite emote, landing on five countries’ trending lists. This mix of traditional and digital strategies points to a future where old-school franchises stay relevant by tapping into fandoms online.
In the U.S., indie animation had a stellar year. Serialized stories like Amazing Digital Circus went mainstream, even earning Netflix licensing deals for simultaneous release alongside YouTube. But it wasn’t just multi-episode series making noise. Single projects like Basics in Behavior also went viral, sparking tons of fan-made content. This shows how creators are democratizing media, proving that even a one-off video can become a cultural moment.
Video podcasts became a cultural force in 2024, attracting public figures like presidential candidates, who skipped traditional interviews to appear on shows like Call Her Daddy and The Joe Rogan Experience. These platforms let creators and guests connect with audiences in a more personal, relaxed way.
A great example is Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay, which hit over 528 million views this year. His interview with comedian Katt Williams alone drew 83 million views, boosted by Sharpe’s smart use of Shorts to break the content into bite-sized, shareable moments.
Gaming continued to expand its reach in 2024, with creators leading the way. Five Nights at Freddy’s transitioned from indie game to blockbuster movie in 2023, and next year will bring more crossovers, like films based on Minecraft and Iron Lung. Creators like Markiplier are bridging the gap between gaming and filmmaking, showing how games can inspire broader cultural movements.
This year, Dress to Impress stood out as a gaming success story. The Roblox-based game attracted diverse audiences with fan art, gameplay videos, and creative expansions of its in-game lore. Creators turned a single game into a full-blown cultural phenomenon.
YouTube wasn’t just about the US in 2024. Here’s a recap of what went down worldwide:
The report makes one thing clear: the lines between traditional and digital media are blurring. Creator-driven franchises like Amazing Digital Circus and Dress to Impress are thriving alongside legacy names like Deadpool and the Olympics. The key to this shift? Fandoms.
Creators are handing fans the keys to remix, expand, and dive deeper into their content, forging stronger connections and reshaping the entertainment landscape. These fan-fueled movements don’t just stop at YouTube—they explode into global phenomena. YouTube’s report earlier this year made it clear: fans aren’t just along for the ride; they are the future of YouTube and pop culture.
You can read YouTube’s full 2024 Trend Report here.
