With just a few weeks left in the year, we’re looking at 2024 with a sense of wonder and wide-eyed excitement. We’re

 which YouTube trends will shape the heart of content creation. We’re 

 for creators to develop new passions. And most of all, we’re eager to break down every YouTube trend so you can grow your channels in 2025!

Before the end of the year, our team of creators sat down together to discuss the emerging trends set to redefine the platform. According to them, the future of YouTube in 2025 holds immense potential for creators willing to adapt. Watch the video above to know how!

So, are you ready to explore the future of YouTube? Pay attention to these nine trends, as they might affect your views, watch time, subscribers, and revenue.

A robot with the youtube logo on its forehead

Artificial intelligence had a breakout year and is still going strong. Tools like ChatGPT, DALL-E, Midjourney, and vidIQ's

 help creatives make content faster. Because of that, we’re seeing the rise of 

. Creators are outsourcing their content creation using AI software (or hired humans) to design thumbnails, script videos, edit footage, and create voiceovers quickly. Some creators make a lot of money doing this — six figures, even.

Unfortunately, many people use AI in damaging ways, like impersonating celebrities and spreading misinformation. YouTube's AI content policy to protect creators against these possible woes by:

Requiring creators to say when they’ve used AI in their content.

Penalizing non-disclosure by potentially removing content.

Allowing creators to request the removal of AI-generated content that impersonates them or infringes on their privacy.

However, YouTube is enthusiastic about the inclusion of AI in video content. With the new auto-dubbing feature, creators can reach a much larger global audience by translating their videos seamlessly into other languages with a single click! AI-assisted editing reduces production time, while advanced analytics guide content optimization.

More and more, creators are ditching highly-produced videos in favor of authentic, unfiltered content. Take a look around YouTube: The thumbnails are getting simpler, and fancy edits are quietly disappearing. Even the storylines themselves have a relaxed, meandering pace, because now, it’s about creating intimacy with viewers.

 is at the forefront of this trend, but he's not alone. 

, originally a horse channel, has pivoted to posting uncut videos that share life lessons. Creators are shifting toward sincere videos, and that's bound continue in 2025.

A thumbnail with the words this is thumbnail A

While some creators have simplified their thumbnails to appear more genuine, that doesn’t mean the YouTube click wars are over. In fact, they’re just beginning.

 that’s designed to help you get more watch time. Creators can upload multiple versions of a thumbnail, let YouTube show them to different viewers, and analyze the results of the experiment. Whichever thumbnail receives the highest share of watch time is the one to use going forward.

This empowers every creator, big and small, to present their best thumbnails. It doesn't matter if creators opt for a simple design; thumbnail testing, by definition, makes YouTube more competitive.

If you are facing trouble in making different thumbnails for your videos to compare in the testing tool, 

An average user on YouTube spends about 40 minutes in a single browsing session

, a number that is significantly higher compared to other social media platforms. Earlier, we talked about authenticity, but another important trend that we've noticed this year is a clear preference for long-form videos.

Creators are increasingly focusing on "evergreen content"—videos that remain relevant and attract consistent views over time. With an ever-expanding YouTube audience, content niches like tutorials, educational videos, and documentary-style storytelling are poised for significant growth. And most of these requirements are best addressed through long-form content, so expect to see more!

With the rise of more and more viewers who watch YouTube on TV, episodic documentary-style content might also be a lucrative trend to watch out for. These formats appeal to viewers seeking high-production value or immersive storytelling experiences.

A woman getting lots of hearts during a livestream

Earlier this year, YouTube announced that creators could monetize their channels with just 

 and 3,000 hours of watch time. That’s a sharp decrease from the 1,000-sub, 4,000-hour requirement we’ve seen in the past.

Notably, you can’t monetize content through video ads if you only have with 500 subscribers. YouTube is restricting these creators to fan-funding revenue only, such as 

Meanwhile, super fans are the ones who donate money, not casual YouTube viewers. That will push creators to 

if they want to make real money through fan funding.

It seems like YouTube wants small creators to have loyal fans before they become big creators. That raises the quality of videos and viewers (i.e., watch time) on YouTube.

6. High Earning Potential from YouTube Livestreaming

male YouTube livestreamer having fun and engaging with the chat

Creators are making gobs of money by simply going live, so the power of hosting YouTube livestreams is trending in the right direction.

Here’s a small taste of what you can earn:

Even outside of YouTube, music artists like Tee Grizzley pull in 

 streaming on Twitch and then posting the completed streams on YouTube. As revenue grows, we expect this trend to continue in 2025.

7. Ad Blockers Derailing Views, Monetization

a cartoon-style web page with the words skip ad

 tank your YouTube views and watch time? Even worse, will they jeopardize your dream of getting monetized?

A year ago, these questions would seem silly. But now that YouTube is blocking video playback for viewers who use ad blockers, the consequences are getting 

 was 35.7% in 2022, with China, Indonesia, and Vietnam leading the charge. Think about it from YouTube's perspective: That's a lot of lost revenue, especially if those behaviors are prevalent on video-sharing sites.

. After all, YouTube has to allow playback on your videos before you can rack up views, watch time, and money. However, common sense tells us that some creators will unknowingly suffer, especially if their audience wants ad-free viewing.

three males filming a dancing youtube short

Did you know that most creators using vidIQ gained 100,000 subscribers by posting short, vertical videos? If you want proof, check our most recent list of 

YouTube channels that hit 100,000 subscribers

 in 30 days. For most channels, their standout video wasn't lengthy or horizontal; it was a YouTube Short.

This isn’t surprising to most creators, but we’re adding it to the list because Shorts continue to grow small channels. If you aren’t a short-form creator (yet), consider experimenting in 2025.

9. The Rise of VR Gaming (Virtual Reality)

 will be more than $22 billion by 2025. So, it makes sense that this style of entertainment is flooding YouTube, especially in the gaming space.

For example, check out the screenshot below. According to vidIQ’s keyword explorer, viewers want to see VR content from games like 

. They’re also searching for VR gamers and commentators (

) as well as VR technology (Soundcore VR P10 earbuds).

All of these keywords have high searches on YouTube and low competition from other creators. That means the VR space is relatively fresh and ready to be tamed by some lucky creators.

Now that you know which trends to watch out for, here's how to update your channel and get more views!

YouTube logo with a jagged line graph shooting through it.

YouTube logo with rising digital graph arrow representing video growth and analytics trends

What will video creation look and feel like in 2025? Dive into YouTube trends surrounding AI, long-form content, and the rise of authentic, unpolished videos.

The Future of Video Creation: 9 YouTube Trends to Watch in 2025

Throughout the last year, YouTube has rolled out many updates on the platform for creators. While some of these updates are minor, several have changed how we look at YouTube forever. And when we peek into the future, it doesn't look like the pace of innovation will be slowing anytime soon.

In the video above, Rob has done the colossal task of covering every YouTube update from last year! Watch it now to know what hit the YouTube world in 2024. To help you stay informed, we've compiled the biggest YouTube updates every creator should know!

phone laying on pile of money and showing youtube logo

 is the most important step in growing a sustainable career. And YouTube seems to have acknowledged that loud and clear. Changes to the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), Shorts monetization, and the positioning of video ads are helping creators earn 

If YouTube rejected your YouTube Partner Program (YPP) application, you could re-apply in 21 days instead of waiting the original 30 days. Also, creators who got rejected a second time had to wait 90 days before reapplying. But, during the waiting period, creators could lose their monetization status.

This Update Could Change the YouTube Partner Program Forever

YouTube has now changed this for the better. Creators will now have a 7-day buffer period to appeal before their income is affected, providing much-needed stability for those who rely on the platform for their livelihood.

Short-form content is here to stay. YouTube now considers videos up to three minutes long as Shorts, granting creators greater flexibility. So, if you've been competing against mini videos that cannibalize your long-form content, your complaints have been heard!

There has also been an increasing trend for YouTube Shorts ad revenue across the platform. In an encouraging sign for Shorts creators, ad RPMs have risen significantly, 

tripling to above $0.10 per thousand views.

 This trend underscores the growing advertiser interest in short-form content 

The opportunities, though, remain severely limited, and creators still need to weigh the benefits of higher visibility against lower income when creating such content.

Instead of allowing you to select the video ads you want to show, such as pre-rolls, post-rolls, skippable, or non-skippable, YouTube will make those decisions for you. It will happen automatically when you decide to monetize an upload.

YouTube Monetization Update: Key Changes for Video Ads

YouTube has said that activating pre-roll ads can potentially boost revenue by over 15%, with a watch time reduction of less than 5%. Creators will still have full control over mid-roll ads and can place them manually.

You can now get discovered from YouTube comments, through a keyword query search directly within YouTube. For now, this update is available on mobile only, but we can expect more updates soon.

Get Discovered By Comments: YouTube Mobile Update

The "Comments" tab on your YouTube Studio has also been renamed to "Community." Its functionality remains largely the same except now with the "Community Spotlight" section, you can check out your most active commenters!

YouTube will also introduce a more dynamic and interactive Community where viewers and subscribers can post content and choose to communicate among themselves.

YouTube took steps to discourage the use of ad blockers

, encouraging viewers to support creators through YouTube Premium. This happened for several reasons:

To continue producing high-quality content, creators need financial support. Ads provide that cushion.

 By watching ads, viewers help to compensate creators for their effort and time.

 Ad revenue creates long-term sustainability for the platform.

But YouTube's latest announcement on new tiers of Premium has left users baffled. YouTube Premium will now have a cheaper tier called "Premium Lite" with limited ads. Although it's said to bypass most ads, the purpose of this new update is not entirely clear.

wrench with the red and white youtube logo

YouTube launched a host of tools last year (and some are yet to come in 2024) to aid creators in their process and make life easier. YouTube isn’t just providing a space to upload videos anymore; it wants to enhance your creative process with a slew of shortcuts!

YouTube's new AI tool translates your video into multiple audio tracks in different languages in practically real-time. This update is being sparsely rolled out as we write and the vidIQ channel doesn't have it yet.

This feature essentially enables creators to reach a massive global audience that was previously untapped for absolutely free! It could be one of the biggest growth tool updates on the platform over the last few years! Currently, the number of languages available for translation is limited but we can definitely expect this tool to become bigger.

YouTube Hype could become a game changer for small channels

. In short, it's a form of fan engagement designed to help creators gain visibility. But unlike the traditional "like" button, which is relatively passive, Hype is an active and impactful form of support. Viewers can “hype” a video, giving it a special kind of acknowledgment that carries more weight than just a like.

In 2024, YouTube will test a new tool called Dream Screen. The name of this feature is spot-on because it sounds exactly like what it does. Whatever you can “dream of”, YouTube will place it in the background of your YouTube Shorts! Just describe what you want to see, and the AI will make it happen.

Coming Soon: YouTube Announces New AI Tools for Video Creation

Now with the addition of the text-to-video AI generation tool Veo, which lets you generate 6-second video clips with a simple prompt, there will be a lot of new possibilities with this feature for Shorts.

If you're an educational channel, this update could prove vital to your growth on YouTube. Now you can make "Courses" which work the same way as "Playlists" which will appear under a new tab on your channel. Viewers who watch these courses can interact with each other on that playlist for easier exchange of ideas.

YouTube's incredible reach means this feature has an incredible potential to educate more people on the internet. And while paid courses are still in limited beta, creators might have great opportunities here

YouTube will now have a video editor that creators can use for their content. Here’s what it can do:

Synchronize video clips to the beat of your music.

YouTube Create is in beta right now, but a few Android markets have access to the free app.

Creators can now test up to three thumbnails

 per video, with YouTube selecting the best one based on share of watch time. This is a significant update for those who want to optimize their video's packaging.

In 2024, YouTube will introduce labels to indicate 

, aiming to prevent misinformation and creator impersonation. Soon, creators must self-certify their AI content or risk harsh penalties, like content removal or suspension from the YPP.

YouTube has recently launched a brand-new product that allows creators to stream their content in a vertical, 9:16 format that is usually popular with platforms like TikTok and Instagram. With this new live format, both veterans and newbies of the "Shorts" and "Live" categories have a new way of growing their channel and audience.

 No more deleting and re-uploading videos to handle copyright claims! YouTube’s new AI tool removes copyrighted songs while preserving speech.

 You can now increase playback speed in 0.5 increments up to 2x speed with a slider tool.

 Enhanced integration of podcasts into the YouTube ecosystem, including a dedicated tab and playlist.

 Creators can now select a frame from their Shorts as a thumbnail, but custom uploads are not yet supported.

 External links have been removed from Shorts descriptions to combat spam and scams. However, now you can link your Shorts to a related long-form video and redirect your viewers to more monetizable content.

 Updated policies require fan channels to disclose that they don't represent the actual artist or creator.

You can now filter advertisers from certain websites through Settings on YouTube under the Ad categories tab. 

While the community hasn’t always been on the same page with YouTube’s changes, most of these updates have been received well. We can expect more updates coming our way in 2025. 

kickstart your year on YouTube the right way!

Red play button with yellow warning triangle symbolizing video error or caution alert.

From monetization changes to quirky new tools, check out the biggest YouTube updates from the past year.

25 YouTube Updates that Will Affect Your Channel in 2025

On YouTube, there is nothing better than getting feedback from your viewers, especially when the insights make your content better. Sometimes, the best way to get this information is by 

 on the YouTube Community Tab. It's a fantastic way to spark new conversations, address real pain points, and introduce ideas that grow your channel.

 is about making your life better as a content creator. Through our polls, we try to understand your problems holistically and share tips and tools to fuel your success.

 all kinds of questions in 2024. You gave us thousands of responses, sharing what you felt about YouTube, the monetization game, and your individual growth journeys. 

YouTube Insights from the vidIQ Community

 make up most of our community. Many of them are grinding their way toward 

 so they can get monetized. Our insights are from creators who watch the vidIQ channel or interact with our community posts.

First of all, a massive shoutout to the vidIQ community for engaging with us and participating in the polls. Your support keeps us motivated! Having said that, these were the most popular, opinionated polls on our community tab in 2024.

1. Have you published a YouTube video this year?

Around the beginning of 2024, we asked our viewers

 if they have published a video this year.

 Currently, it stands as our most engaged poll this year, with a 63% majority responding with positivity. If you find yourself in the other group of people, don't lose heart! 

We know how to make your first video stand out.

Where do you prefer to watch live streams?

Twitch still maintains a steady and comfortable lead when it comes to live content viewership

 with 8.5 billion hours watched, YouTube comes as a close second. And in our poll, which might have some bias, 

a staggering 60% mentioned YouTube as their preferred medium of watching live streams.

6 Things to Do Before Your First YouTube Live Stream

and their preferred video length of videos on YouTube. An overwhelming majority of 86% chose regular length videos over Shorts!

In a poll we conducted to identify pain points of our community

, we asked whether they'd improve the video quality of their content or post their videos more frequently. 72% of the voters chose the former option.

How much do you spend on your YouTube Channel

In an effort to understand how committed to the content creation process the people of our community is, we put a 

poll asking how much they earn on YouTube.

 70% of the voters said they spent $0 a month, while 17% spent anywhere between $1-$50. 

We asked our community about their channel's monetization status. 82% of the responders chose "No." If you find yourself agreeing to the same, learn how to monetize your channel right now!

What do you consider a "small YouTube channel"?

The term "small channel" while widely used is not strictly defined in its parameters. So, 

we chose to ask our vibrant community for their interpretation of a small YouTube channel.

 51% of voters agreed on channels that have anywhere between 101-1,000 subscribers, 19% chose channels in the range of 1,001-10,000 subscribers, while 11% chose the 11-100 subscribers' range.

Does the YouTube algorithm treat small channels fairly?

YouTube algorithm treated small channels fairly in 2024.

 Looking at the comments, many creators feel this way because their channels are growing, they're excited to learn content creation, and they love how YouTube is improving the platform.

If YouTube ad-revenue didn't exist would you still make YouTube videos?

With this poll, we got an answer to a very important question that pops up now and then, however hypothetical it may be. We asked if creators of our community 

would be making videos if there wasn't any ad revenue to be earned.

, and 72% of the ones who responded chose that they'd want to ask their audience to subscribe to their videos over like it.

Looking for a New Year's resolution to pursue in 2025? Start polling your audience on the YouTube Community Tab! With thousands of poll responses, this is an easy way to 

Everything you need is in the YouTube Studio, and there are plenty of features to customize your content.

How to Use the YouTube Community Tab and Engage with Viewers

 icon at the top of your YouTube homepage. Select Create Post from the drop-down menu.

Community post create tab on YouTube page 

Once again, we would like to thank every community member for participating in our polls and helping us grow with you! The new year is fast approaching, and 

here’s how to prepare for YouTube growth in 2025.

Neon light sign of a checklist clipboard with one red checkmark on dark background

Through many polls, we learned more about small creators in 2024. Here's how they view monetization, YouTube Shorts, and what it means to grow with longevity.

Poll Data: 10 YouTube Stats About the Small Creator Journey

As the new year arrives, we want to congratulate every creator who stuck beside their channel in 2024. For all of us, this year was full of ups and downs; now it's time to reflect on what worked and what didn’t, prepare for the coming year, and stay ahead of the game. A channel refresh will help you do that and more!

Gone are the days where formulaic content that doesn't invoke a personal connect can perform greatly. In the video above, Rob discusses these ideas in detail, so watch it now! Refreshing your channel doesn’t necessarily mean a complete overhaul of it. It also doesn't imply just keeping up with trends. It's about leveraging the power of 

 analytics to drive growth in a meaningful way. 

But how do you know if your channel needs updating? Here are some signs to watch out for:

It's clear-cut. If your views dropped in 2023, your channel is losing steam and needs a refresh.

Likes, shares, comments — they're the heartbeat of any YouTube channel. Are you seeing a dip in these areas? That's a major heads-up that your channel might need intervention.

A thriving YouTube channel is like a magnet, constantly attracting new subscribers. If your numbers are stuck or, even worse, dwindling, it's a signal to switch gears. 

Comments are a goldmine for engagement. If your videos are greeted with silence, it could mean your audience's interest is fading.

Watch time is a big deal for YouTube's algorithm. If yours is on a downward trend, it might be time to shake up your content approach.

This metric tells you how much of your video viewers are watching. If it's falling, it could mean your content isn't as gripping as it used to be.

How to Kickstart More YouTube Channel Growth

In 2025, growing a successful YouTube channel requires a blend of authenticity, emotional resonance, and understanding audience preferences. YouTube's latest report, "Why We Watch 2.0," sheds light on critical strategies that creators can implement to improve engagement and viewer retention.

The report highlights varying preferences based on viewer age like the following:

 Younger audiences value originality, creativity, and educational content. They seek creators who bring fresh perspectives and teach them something new. 

 Older viewers prioritize trustworthiness and storytelling. They are drawn to content that offers meaningful narratives and reflects the creator's values.

Contrary to traditional beliefs, high production quality is no longer the defining factor for success on YouTube. 

The competition is rising on YouTube, so you have to be surgical in your method of getting more 

. In this section, we'll show you how to refresh your channel from the inside out using pure data.

Do you have several videos that are struggling to get clicks? It’s safe to say the current video title isn't working and needs a meaningful update. Maybe it doesn't speak to your viewers' core desires, or perhaps it's lacking the right keywords. Either way, a new and improved title can boost your views, especially if the topic is still relevant.

11 Ways to Write Exciting YouTube Titles for Your Videos

Pull title inspiration from viral videos on the same topic.

Use language that appeals to deeper goals and desires (not just the topic at hand).

Aim for 60-70 characters so the full title is displayed.

Similar to refreshing your titles, you might need better thumbnails if people aren't clicking on your videos. The good news is that YouTube is rolling out 

. This means you can test up to three images with different audiences, and use the one that leads to higher watch time.

How To Make Attention Grabbing Custom Thumbnails on YouTube with vidIQ

But not everyone has this tool yet. So, in the meantime, it helps to know the 

 on your channel. That could be 4%, 5%, or even a whopping 10%. No matter the percentage, you want to create thumbnails that bring in a much higher CTR, and then add them to low-performing videos.

1. Go to the YouTube Studio, then select 

2. Underneath the dashboard showing views, subscribers, watch time, and revenue, click 

See More option below youtube analytics dashboard 

3. Next to the views by content filter, choose a second filtering option: 

impressions click-through rate filter option in youtube studio content graph

4. Change the time period to the last 365 days.

time period selector for youtube content graph showing last 365 days option

Next, you'll see a list of videos, along with your channel's average CTR at the top. For example, ours is 

Now, browse the list of videos, the thumbnails beside them, and their respective CTRs. Which videos are beating the overall CTR for your channel? 

Get ahead of other creators by refreshing your YouTube channel right now. These are the best tips to enhance video titles, thumbnails, and attract more views and subscribers in 2024.

Uttaran Samaddar

Posts Written By Uttaran Samaddar

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