If there’s one defining function of the 2024 cultural panorama, it’s the rise of microtrends. These fleeting moments of viral content material have emerged and light so quickly over the previous few months that it’s virtually unattainable to maintain up. This phenomenon has highlighted a key reality: not all display screen time is equal, and typically, merely being on-line doesn’t equate to true engagement.
What units YouTube aside, nonetheless, is that its viewers approaches the platform with clear intent. They arrive looking for precisely what they want — assured that they’ll entry the content material they need, on-demand. This intentionality is why YouTube has develop into one of the vital compelling platforms for MENA audiences, providing an area the place customers not solely keep knowledgeable but additionally discover real enjoyment, all on their phrases.
In 2024, YouTube has established itself because the main social media platform for customers within the Center East and North Africa (MENA). The platform, lengthy recognized for its huge library of movies, has now develop into a central hub for all the things from breaking information and gaming developments to popular culture and rising music.
As a part of its annual custom, YouTube just lately revealed its Finish-of-12 months Lists, shedding gentle on the highest moments, creators, and music that outlined the platform throughout MENA. This 12 months, YouTube launched a brand new function: the High Trending Matters for MENA, giving us a glimpse into the cultural pulse of the area.
These rankings are based mostly on a mix of person engagement metrics, together with views, uploads, and creator exercise. What’s clear is that YouTube has developed from a easy video-sharing platform to a dynamic house the place MENA’s most essential tales, developments, and creators come to life in a wide range of codecs, from Shorts to reside streams.
MENA’s Trending Moments: Struggle, Sports activities, and Pop Tradition
The 12 months 2024 has been considered one of turbulence and uncertainty throughout the MENA area, marked by financial crises, political unrest, and widespread challenges. Within the face of such upheaval, folks have more and more turned to the web—not just for leisure, but additionally for data and activism.
This 12 months’s lists present simply how deeply the area’s points have resonated with viewers. In 2024, three of YouTube’s prime trending matters have been straight tied to ongoing conflicts, together with searches associated to Rafah, the Houthi motion, and Southern Lebanon.
Sports activities additionally had a serious presence, with viewers participating with moments corresponding to Algerian Boxer Imane Khlief’s Olympic achievements. Gaming emerged as one of the vital vital cultural shifts of the 12 months, with over 950 million views on movies associated to EA Sports activities FC 24, showcasing the area’s rising obsession with gaming content material.
2024 was a serious 12 months for gaming creators throughout the MENA area. Channels like AboFlah, BanderitaX, and ShongBong dominated the scene, with tens of millions of subscribers and billions of views.
Due to its emphasis on long-form content material, YouTube’s potential to amplify gaming content material makes it the go-to platform for players in MENA, permitting influencers to create communities and form developments. From EA Sports activities FC 24 to Poppy Playtime: Chapter 3 and Free Fireplace MAX, YouTube’s gaming group in MENA reveals no indicators of slowing down.
YouTube has additionally develop into a breeding floor for viral popular culture developments. One of many standout matters in 2024 was the success of “Qesma w Naseeb“, YouTube’s native courting actuality present, which generated over one billion views on its official channel.
One other pattern that made waves was the Asoka make-up pattern, the place customers throughout the area embraced conventional Indian bridal hair, make-up, and outfits.
As YouTube continues to form MENA’s leisure scene, music additionally stays a driving pressure. This 12 months noticed Al Shami, a rising star, featured prominently within the Trending Matters. His music resonated with audiences, highlighting YouTube’s function in launching new expertise into the limelight.
Equally, Mohamed Lazaar’s (Lazaro) “Mahboul Ana” rocketed to the highest of the charts, additional solidifying YouTube’s affect on the regional music trade, in addition to tracks like Tamer Ashour’s “Haygyly Mawgoo“.
With such a wide selection of participating content material—whether or not it’s gaming, music, information, or the most recent developments—YouTube has actually develop into a staple in each day life for MENA audiences, the place the cultural pulse of the area is each mirrored and formed.
