How to Check What Is Trending on Twitter

Want to tap into the real-time pulse of what the world is talking about? Finding trending topics on X (formerly Twitter) is a powerful way to keep your content relevant, discover fresh ideas, and engage with your audience when it matters most. This guide will show you exactly how to find trends, customize them for your needs, and use them wisely to boost your social media strategy.

Why Bother with X Trends Anyway?

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." Trending topics on X aren't just a random list of popular words, they represent what millions of people are collectively discussing right now. For content creators, brands, and marketers, this is a goldmine. The X algorithm personalizes trends based on your location, interests, and who you follow, giving you a snapshot of conversations that are likely relevant to you.

Monitoring these trends allows you to:

• Jump into relevant conversations: Participate in discussions your audience already cares about, increasing your visibility and engagement organically.
• Discover fresh content ideas: Stuck in a content rut? Trends can spark new ideas for blog posts, videos, threads, or even simple, engaging posts.
• Understand your audience better: The topics, memes, and news your target audience engages with reveal their interests, pain points, and sense of humor.
• Spot cultural moments in real-time: From viral memes to industry news, trends help you stay on the leading edge of culture and avoid being a step behind.

In short, paying attention to what's trending is one of the easiest ways to move from broadcasting content to having a dynamic, two-way conversation with your community.

How to See What's Trending on X (Step-by-Step)

Finding X's official trends list is straightforward, whether you're on a computer or your phone. The interface is nearly identical, making it easy to check on the go.

On the X Website (Desktop)

If you're managing your social media from a laptop or desktop, finding trends takes just a few clicks:

1. Log in to your X account. Head over to X.com and sign in.
2. Navigate to the "Explore" Tab. On the main navigation menu running down the left side of the screen, look for the hashtag symbol (#). This is the "Explore" icon. Click it.
3. View Personalized Trends. You'll land on the "For You" section of Explore. This page shows a mix of content X thinks you'll like, including popular videos, articles, and trends catered to your activity.
4. Click the "Trending" Tab. For a clean, curated list of just the top trends, look at the tabs across the top of the Explore page and click on "Trending." This page removes the extra content and just shows you the ranked list of trending topics and hashtags.
5. Examine the Trends. Here, you'll see a list of topics. Each entry often includes extra context, like the category it belongs to (e.g., Politics, Music, Sports) and the number of posts related to the trend (e.g., "55K posts"). This gives you a sense of scale and relevance at a glance.

On the X Mobile App (iOS and Android)

Checking trends on your phone is just as simple and is perfect for "in-the-moment" marketing opportunities.

1. Open the X app and make sure you're logged into your account.
2. Tap the "Explore" Icon. Look at the bottom navigation bar of the app. Tap the magnifying glass icon, which serves as the "Explore" button.
3. Select the "Trending" Tab. Similar to the desktop version, you'll land on a "For You" page. At the very top of the screen, you'll see a row of options like "For You," "Trending," "News," etc. Tap on "Trending."
4. Browse the List. You'll now see the list of popular topics tailored to you. You can scroll through to see what's popular locally and globally. Tapping on any trend will take you directly to the live feed of posts using that hashtag or keyword.

How to See Trends Beyond Your Location

By default, X shows you trends based on your physical location and profile settings. This is great for local businesses, but what if your audience is in a different city or country? Or what if you just want a broader, global perspective? Customizing your trend location is a simple but powerful feature.

Changing Your Trends Location

1. Go to the "Trending" Page. Follow the steps above for either desktop or mobile to get to the main trends list.
2. Find the Settings Icon. In the top-right corner of the trends list, you’ll see a small gear icon (⚙️). Click or tap it to open the "Explore settings."
3. Adjust Your Settings. You’ll see two key options here:
   • "Show content in your current location": This is usually checked by default. To see trends from a wider, less personalized perspective (often reflecting United States or global topics), simply uncheck this box. This is perfect for seeing what the biggest conversations are on the platform as a whole.
   • "Explore locations": To see what's trending in a specific place, click on this option. It will open up a search bar and a list of countries. You can select a country or even search for specific cities within larger countries.

For example, if you're a fashion brand in New York trying to monitor reactions to London Fashion Week, you can switch your location to "London, England" to see the most relevant hashtags and conversations happening on the ground there. It's an indispensable tool for global marketing and market research.

Advanced Strategies for Finding What’s *Really* Trending

The official "Trending" list is a great starting point, but it only shows the tip of the iceberg. True trend-spotting involves looking a little deeper to find conversations that are simmering just below the surface in your niche.

1. Create and Follow Niche Lists

One of the most overlooked features on X is Lists. Instead of relying on the main algorithm, you can curate your own feeds based on specific user groups. Create private lists of:

• Your top customers or community members.
• Competitors in your industry.
• Industry journalists and thought leaders.
• Speakers from a recent conference you attended.

By checking in on these custom timelines, you create micro-trending environments. You’ll see what patterns emerge and what topics the most important people in your world are discussing, often hours or days before a topic hits the official trends list.

2. Master X's Advanced Search

X's Advanced Search is your secret weapon for finding relevant, high-engagement content without waiting for it to trend. You can filter your search results by:

• Minimum engagement: Search for posts about a topic (e.g., "AI marketing") that have at least 1,000 likes or 100 replies. This instantly surfaces the most popular opinions on the subject.
• Specific users: See what a group of people (like your "Industry Experts" list) is saying about a certain topic.
• Questions: Filter a keyword search to only show posts structured as questions. This is an incredible way to find customer pain points and content ideas.
• Sentiment: You can even filter posts to be positive or negative, giving you a quick read on public sentiment around a new product or piece of news.

3. Don't Ignore "Topics"

As you browse X, the platform often prompts you to follow specific "Topics" (e.g., Marketing, SEO, Taylor Swift). When you follow a Topic, X adds curated, high-performing posts about that subject directly into your main timeline. This acts like a passive trend discovery tool. By telling the algorithm you're interested in "Content Creation," for example, you're training it to show you the best, most engaging posts on that subject, which often include emerging trends.

Found a Trend? Here’s How to Use It (The Smart Way)

Finding a trend is easy, using it effectively is what separates amateurs from pros. Jumping on a trend without thinking can do more harm than good. Follow these simple best practices to make a positive impact.

Do: Understand the Context First

Always, always click on a trending hashtag to see *why* it's trending before you post. What seems like a fun meme could actually be related to a political crisis, a natural disaster, or a celebrity scandal. A quick look at the top posts will give you the context you need to avoid a major brand blunder.

Do: Find a Genuine Connection

The most important question to ask is: "Does my brand have permission to be in this conversation?" If a trend is about accounting software, and you're a CPG brand, it’s probably best to sit it out. Look for trends where you can provide real value, a unique perspective, a helpful resource, or authentic humor that aligns with your brand's voice.

Don't: Hijack Tragedies or Sensitive Issues

This is the cardinal rule. Never use a trend related to a serious or tragic situation to promote your brand. It's tasteless, insensitive, and a fast track to getting boycotted. If the world is talking about something serious, use your platform to share resources or messages of support - or just stay silent.

Don't: Spam an Unrelated Post with Hashtags

Simply adding #MoviePremiere to your pre-scheduled post about a product sale is lazy and ineffective. Users immediately recognize this as spam. The content of your post should be *about* the trend itself. Instead of "Check out our new shoes! #MoviePremiere," try something like, "Which of our shoes would the Main Character have worn to the #MoviePremiere? We’re thinking these."

Final Thoughts

Learning how to check and interpret Twitter trends is a fundamental skill for anyone serious about social media. It transforms your presence from a static content schedule into a dynamic part of the internet's biggest conversations. By using the platform's built-in tools and applying a bit of strategic thinking, you can stay ready to engage with your audience when and where they're most active.

Of course, identifying a trend is just the first step - acting on it quickly is what counts. We've experienced the clunky workflows of older tools that make it hard to get timely content out the door. That's why we built Postbase with speed and modern creator needs in mind. With our visual content calendar and ultra-reliable scheduling, you can plan and publish content reacting to a new trend across all your channels in minutes, ensuring your brand stays part of the conversation, not an afterthought.