How to See Worldwide Trends on Twitter

Trying to see what the entire world is talking about on Twitter can feel like a hunt for a secret menu item - you know it exists, but finding it isn't obvious. You're in luck because it's not only possible, but it's also one of the most powerful ways to get a pulse on global conversations for content ideas, brand strategy, or plain curiosity. This guide will walk you through exactly how to check worldwide trends and, more importantly, how to use that information effectively.

Why Check Worldwide Trends in the First Place?

Before jumping into the step-by-step, let's nail down why this is such a valuable skill for any creator, marketer, or brand builder. Viewing global trends isn't just about satisfying curiosity, it's a strategic tool that gives you a massive advantage.

• Unfiltered Content Inspiration: Creative block is real. When you're staring at a blank content calendar, worldwide trends are a lifesaver. They offer a real-time stream of topics, memes, and discussions that millions of people already care about. You just have to find a way to connect them to your niche.
• Maintain Brand Relevance: A brand that feels current is a brand that people connect with. Participating in relevant, large-scale conversations shows that you're paying attention and you're part of the cultural moment, not just broadcasting messages into the void. It demonstrates that there's a human behind the logo.
• Discover New Audiences: Seeing what's popular on a global scale can expose you to subcultures and interest groups you never knew existed. A trending video game, a new sci-fi show, or a global sustainability movement might contain a segment of your next ideal customers.
• Early-Stage Market Research: Trends often start with a global spark before they narrow down to specific regions or industries. By monitoring worldwide trends, you can spot emerging narratives, technologies, or consumer behaviors long before your competitors do. It's like getting a peek into the near future.

How to See Worldwide Trends Directly on Twitter (X)

Twitter's trending algorithm is designed to be personal and local by default. It shows you "Trends for you," which are based on your location and the accounts you follow. To see a broader view, you need to adjust a simple setting. Here's how to do it on both desktop and mobile.

Changing Your Trends Location on a Desktop Browser

If you're managing social media from your laptop or desktop, this is your quickest route. The interface is straightforward once you know where to look.

1. Log In and Find the Trends Box: Go to X.com and log into your account. On your home feed, you'll typically find the "What's happening" or "Trends" card on the right-hand sidebar.
2. Access the Trend Settings: At the top of that card, you'll see a heading like "Trends for you." Click the small gear icon (settings) on the far right of this heading.
3. Change Your Location Settings: A pop-up menu called "Explore Settings" will appear. The first thing you'll see is a checkbox for "Show content in your current location." Uncheck this box. This is the most important step, it tells Twitter you want to see trends outside of your immediate physical area.
4. Select a Global Location: Once you uncheck the box, a new option will appear below it called "Explore locations." Click this. A search bar will pop up allowing you to choose a new country.

Here's the catch: Twitter doesn't offer a single, unified "Worldwide" option. It's a bit of a quirk in their system. However, you can easily work around this. To get the best feel for widespread, global topics, select a large, English-speaking country like the United States or the United Kingdom. Trends in these countries often have massive international overlap due to media and cultural influence.

After selecting your new location, just close the pop-up. Your trends box on the homepage will immediately refresh to show the top trends for the country you chose, giving you a much broader perspective.

Changing Your Trends Location on the Mobile App (iOS & Android)

The process is just as simple on your phone, making it easy to check global conversations while you're on the move.

1. Open the Explore Tab: Launch the X app on your phone. Tap the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen to go to the "Explore" page.
2. Find the Settings Icon: At the top of the Explore page, you'll see a "For you" tab with all the latest trends. In the upper right-hand corner of this screen, tap the gear icon.
3. Disable Localized Content: This will take you to the "Explore Settings" screen. Just like on desktop, you will see a toggle for "Show content in this location." Turn this toggle off.
4. Choose Your New Location: Once the toggle is off, tap on "Explore locations" which appears right below it. You can scroll through the list of countries or use the search bar to find one. Again, select a major hub like the United States to get a view that closely approximates global conversations.

Once you select a new location, simply navigate back to the Explore tab. It will now be populated with the trending topics from that region, freed from your personal algorithm.

Strategies for Advanced Trend Analysis

Simply changing your location settings is level one. To really do this like a pro, you need to dig deeper and add context to what you're seeing. A trending hashtag is just data, understanding the conversation around it is where the real value lies.

Use Twitter's Advanced Search for Context

Spotted a trending topic like "#NewGadget2024"? Don't just look at the feed for that hashtag. Use Twitter's Advanced Search to dissect the conversation. You can filter the results to find out:

• Who is driving the conversation? Filter tweets to only show those from verified accounts or accounts with a high follower count.
• What's the general sentiment? Add 😊 or 😢 to your search query to see positive or negative-leaning tweets about the trend. You can also search for keywords like "love," "hate," "awesome," or "disappointed" along with the trend.
• Where is it most popular? Even for a global trend, you can use the location filter in advanced search to see how users in specific cities or countries are reacting.

Create Twitter Lists of Global Influencers and News Outlets

Trends don't materialize out of thin air. They're often started or amplified by specific groups of people. A fantastic way to spot trends before they officially hit the trending list is to curate Twitter Lists.

Create lists for different categories:

• Global News Sources: Include outlets like Reuters, BBC World, Associated Press, Al Jazeera, etc.
• Tech Influencers: People across different continents known for breaking news and insights.
• Pop Culture Commentators: Accounts that focus on movies, music, and celebrity news from around the world.

By checking the feeds of these curated lists, you're essentially creating your own custom trend-spotting dashboard. You'll see what these influential accounts are all starting to talk about at the same time, often 12-24 hours before it becomes a mainstream trend.

Look Deeper Than Hashtags

Not all trends have a hashtag. Often, a trending topic is just a keyword or phrase, like "CEO Resigns" or "New Album Drop." These are sometimes even more potent because the conversation is more organic. When you see these, investigate further. What CEO? Whose album? The initial ambiguity invites clicks and engagement, making these trends particularly powerful for content that provides clarity and context.

How to Actually Use Trends in Your Social Media Strategy

Finding a trend is the easy part. Using it effectively without sounding cringe or forced is a bit of an art. Here's a simple framework to follow.

1. The Relevancy Check

Before you even think about crafting a post, ask yourself a few direct questions:

• Is this genuinely relevant to my audience? If you sell B2B software, jumping on a trend about a reality TV show finale probably isn't going to connect. Be honest with yourself.
• Does it align with my brand's voice and values? Avoid jumping on heavy political or divisive topics unless your brand is explicitly built around that. A misstep here can do more harm than good.
• Is there a risk of this going sour? Some trends, especially outage reports or emerging scandals, can change direction fast. What seems like a lighthearted joke now might be tone-deaf in an hour. When in doubt, it's better to observe than participate.

2. The Speed Test

Trends have the shelf-life of a carton of milk left out in the sun. They are incredibly time-sensitive. The peak moment to engage with a trend is usually within the first 1-4 hours of it hitting the trending list. If you see a perfect opportunity, you need to act fast. This means having a quick content creation and approval process in place. Waiting until the next day is almost always too late.

3. Add Value, Don't Just Report

Never, ever just post the hashtag. That's just noise. Instead, your goal should be to add to the conversation in a way that's unique to your brand.

• Provide Your Niche Perspective: If a new AI tool is trending, a marketing agency can share an analysis of its branding. A development firm could comment on the code stack. A designer can critique its UI. Stick to your expertise.
• Use Humor (Carefully): Memes are the currency of the internet. A witty, on-brand meme that connects your product or service to a global trend can be a massive win for engagement and shares.
• Ask a Question: Instead of making a statement, pull your audience into the conversation. "The entire internet is talking about the new 'Starlight' movie trailer. For the filmmakers in our audience, what's one shot that impressed you the most?"

Final Thoughts

Mastering how to see worldwide trends on Twitter is a simple technical shift with major strategic benefits. It unlocks a constant stream of content ideas and gives you the opportunity to make your brand part of a bigger, more dynamic conversation. By following these steps, you've moved past your personalized feed and now have a global view at your fingertips.

Knowing what's trending is one thing, acting on it quickly and consistently is what separates successful brands from the rest. Keeping an eye on these global conversations and having a flexible plan is so important. At Postbase, we wanted to build a tool that makes this process feel effortless. Our visual calendar allows us to see our entire content strategy at a glance, so we can instantly spot opportunities to insert a timely, trend-based post without disrupting our existing schedule. Tying your evergreen content to the right cultural moment can make all the difference.