Do you think YouTube’s algorithm still favors niche content, or is it all about trends now?

[danielmartinhq]

I’ve been spending more time on YouTube lately, and something’s been on my mind.

It used to feel like even smaller or niche channels could grow if their content was solid and consistent. Now it seems like a lot of visibility goes to whatever’s trending or already blowing up. I get that trends drive traffic, but it kind of makes me wonder if there’s still real space for niche content to grow organically.

For those of you who upload or follow smaller creators, have you noticed a shift in how videos get recommended? Do you think the algorithm still gives fair chances to less mainstream content, or is it mostly momentum-based now?

Would be interesting to hear your experiences, especially if you’ve been active on the platform for a while.

 

[danielmartinhq]

Just to add something I’ve personally noticed while testing different types of content…

It feels like the algorithm hasn’t completely abandoned niche content, but it definitely expects stronger engagement signals early on. If a video in a niche gets good watch time and interaction in the first few hours, it still has a chance to spread beyond that small audience. But without that push, it kind of dies quietly.

Also, I’ve seen that how people watch content matters more now. For example, users on modified apps like YouTube Premium APK (like those shared on ytmodz) often skip ads and sometimes consume content differently, which could indirectly affect retention and engagement patterns. That might be another reason why trending-style content—fast, attention-grabbing, and optimized for quick watch sessions—seems to perform better.
Still curious if others here have tested niche vs trending topics recently. Are you seeing the same thing, or something completely different?