Announcing the viral video trends for 2014

Loyal viewers,

The wait ends today. After months of development, we’re excited to reveal our slate of upcoming viral video trends for 2014.

Since 2005, YouTube's staff has worked tirelessly behind the scenes, meticulously crafting the viral videos and Internet memes you've come to know and love. From mainstream hits like Gangnam Style and Harlem Shake to your obscure web forum favorites, our staff of writers, producers and directors has shaped the pop culture moments that matter in our digital lives.

This year's memes will be bigger, bolder and more popular than ever. We promise. Watch our video for more details:


We know you can't wait to be a part of these new trends, so take a look at these behind-the-scenes clips to learn how to immediately create and upload your own:







And this year, we've got a big, special announcement. For the first time, we’re looking to you, the YouTube community, to submit your own viral trend ideas. Share your ideas using #newtrends on Twitter, Google+, or in the comments and our Meme Development experts will choose their favorites and make them official YouTube trends, complete with demo videos on youtube.com/youtube. Find more details here.

Look forward to our best year yet!

Kramer Kinz, Junior Vice-President, Video Meme Development, recently watched "Teens Migrating From Facebook to Slow-Motion Deer Video."

Haters and Celebrators Unite: This Valentine’s Day, There’s Something for Everybody on YouTube

Every year on February 14, we see endless pairings of pink and red, while our reactions remain pretty black and white. This polarizing holiday tends to inspire only one of two passionate responses: Valentine’s Day stinks--or it rocks. Depending on whom you ask, it’s a special day to shower your loved one with sweet nothings and gifts galore, or a saccharine minefield of prix fixe menus and overpriced chocolates.

Whether you’re toasting St. Valentine with champagne and long-stemmed roses, or fighting off nausea at the sight of every teddy bear and heart-shaped cupcake, YouTube is the place to be. This is all rather apropos given YouTube’s roots. A little known fact: we registered our domain on Valentine's Day.

This year, we canoodled with some of our partners and our Trends Manager Kevin Allocca to find the right videos for romantics and eye-rollers alike.

True romantics will swoon over the most-viewed proposals of all time while singing along to our top cheesy love songs.

All the single ladies (and gentlemen) may want to sharpen their A-game by studying our worst pickup lines list and the science of love lessons, which teach the essentials, such as how to stay out of the "friend zone."

And for those who spend today counting the hours ‘til the 15th can play our break-up ballads at full blast and bask in some schadenfreude while taking in marriage proposal fails. On second thought, if you’re pondering the merits of popping The Question today, you might want to check that out, too (don’t say we didn’t warn you).

Enjoy hating or celebrating today and check out all of our Valentine’s Day playlists at http://www.youtube.com/youtube.

Chelsea Maughan, Communications Manager, recently watched "I Swear (Official Music Video) - All 4 One."

This week's Trends: lights, wind, guitars

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:

• We took in some dazzling videos of the Northern Lights captured on camera.
  
  
• We collected video from Egypt's one-year anniversary of its revolution.
  
  
• We examined how a certain very popular trend of 2012 has gone local.
  
  
• We checked in on the ever-growing popularity of dubstep.
  
  
• We were blown away by crazy footage of a California wind storm.
  
  
• And we met an 8-year-old girl who might just be one of the best elementary school metal guitarist that we've seen:

Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Ignition."

This week's Trends: wind, tears, and sailors

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:

• We looked at how a recent ad from candidate Rick Perry has stirred up lots of interest and parodies.
  
  
• We saw on-the-scene footage from some wild windstorms in Scotland.
  
  
• We tracked rising searches around tent monsters in "Occupy Australia."
  
  
• We reflected on how children football fans deal with defeat: very very poorly.
  
  
• We collected popular college videos from across the United States.
  
  
• We measured how Justin Bieber's finding a sizeable audience for his holiday videos.
  
  
• And even Mariah Carey herself declared this "the best thing I've ever seen":

Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Why Men and Women Cant be friends."

This week's Trends: billions, spots, jelly beans

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:

• We noted that Justin Bieber's single "Mistletoe" helped push the star over 2 billion views.
  
  
• We saw more intense confrontations at "Occupy" protests.
  
  
• We collected 10 of the most-viewed performances of "Thriller" on Halloween.
  
  
• We tracked the most popular song parody in Wisconsin.
  
  
• We asked Yukigassen the New Botaoshi?
  
  
• We viewed spreading "lockout" spots from Nike.
  
  
• We highlighted the search bump around the new GTA.
  
  
• And this was certainly the most elaborately crafted music video to captured our attention this week:

Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Jian Sword Dancing."

This week's Trends: commercials, conflicts, light shows

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:

• We studied how local TV commercials have become a new (comedy) art form.
  
  
• We saw tense and dramatic scenes from the "Occupy" protest in Oakland.
  
  
• We reflected on the video trend of children using tablet devices.
  
  
• We saw flood videos coming in from around the world.
  
  
• We looked at how GOP candidate Herman Cain had the trending campaign video of the week.
  
  
• We admired dazzling footage of the Northern Lights as scene from a number of places across the globe.
  
  
• We collected videos from the earthquake in Turkey.
  
  
• And this seemed to be the most shared Halloween video of the week:

Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Japanese Monkey Potato Feeding Frenzy."

This week's Trends: breaking news, music videos, and corn

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:

• We discovered a viral video trending amongst the 55+ crowd.
  
  
• We saw a stadium stunt that spread from Iowa in popularity.
  
  
• We looked at some of the trends around the big Col. Gadhafi news out of Libya.
  
  
• We studied how two major music videos were gaining popularity around the planet.
  
  
• We checked out a viral political spot from North Africa.
  
  
• We tracked last weekend's "Occupy" protest footage from different parts of the U.S. and the world.
  
  
• And we experienced what it would be like to kayak with blue whales:

Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Bobby Brown - Every Little Step."

This week's Trends: Wall Street, Nicki Minaj, antelope

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:

• We tracked trending videos from Occupy Wall Street in Boston as well as NYC and San Francisco. We also saw how some celebrities had made appearances in protest videos.
  
  
• We wondered if YouTube was making it harder to stage an impressive proposal.
  
  
• We enjoyed one little Nicki Minaj fans very exciting week.
  
  
• We studied the recent spike in iPhone video searches.
  
  
• We looked at how man and nature collided in a series of dramatic videos from South Africa.
  
  
• And, speaking of South Africa, this close encounter between a mountain biker and an antelope in that country was our trending video of the week:

Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Wilson vs. Wilson."

This week's Trends: hits, protests, and Steve Jobs

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:

• We learned how one deaf woman created the viral hit of the weekend.
  
  
• We finished our series on three types of one-man-bands people love on YouTube.
  
  
• We tracked protests in Iceland, Greece and New York City.
  
  
• We studied singer Adele's popularity in 2011.
  
  
• We collected some attention-grabbing videos from around the world.
  
  
• And we watched how Steve Jobs fans reflected on his passing and how his technology affected their lives. Watch some in the playlist below:

Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Brad Pitt!."

This week's Trends: space, holidays, and pranks

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:

• We studied a trend of popular composite videos created from photos taken in space.
  
  
• We collected some of the popular Rosh Hashanah music video parodies being watched during the Jewish New Year.
  
  
• We looked at how U.S. "X Factor" contestant Chris Rene jumped to popularity.
  
  
• CBS News' The Feed examined the rising phenomenon of globally-popular Russian cat videos.
  
  
• We tracked footage being posted from the "Occupy Wall Street" protests in NYC.
  
  
• And this Carlsberg prank from Belgium became a global hit:

Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "29 years old and hearing myself for the 1st time!."

This week's Trends: anniversaries, webcams, and the future

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:

• We looked at how the anniversary of 9/11 became a dominant topic on YouTube.
  
  
• We studied the unexpected pop-culture resurgence of Back to the Future 2.
  
  
• We tracked the popularity of iPhone concept videos.
  
  
• We saw some interesting public displays from around the world.
  
  
• We collected dramatic footage from a chemical fire in Canberra.
  
  
• And these two seniors trying to work their webcam became the major viral hit of the week:

Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "You're not gonna be the great breakdancer you think you are."

This week's Trends: fire, flash and dubstep

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:

• We studied how interest in dubstep music has risen across 2011.
  
  
• We uncovered on-the-scene footage from Russia's tragic KHL plane crash.
  
  
• We revealed part 2 of our exploration of the three kinds of one-man-bands.
  
  
• We collected bystander footage of the wildfire in Texas.
  
  
• And we learned of the "flash haka" and looked at the creativity behind 10 unique flash mobs from outside the United States.

Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Back for the Future."

This week's Trends: earthquakes, hurricanes, and portals

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:

• We highlighted lots of videos and reactions from the East Coast earthquake as well as some instances of the quake caught-on-camera.
  
  
• We saw how people were documenting preparations for Hurricane Irene.
  
  
• We catalogued 10 of the most-viewed Minecraft song parodies.
  
  
• We spotted some wild human pyramids in India.
  
  
• We tracked some rising searches this week, which included Aaliyah and some airshow tragedies.
  
  
• We shared video from a flash mob arrest.
  
  
• We received video from Libya as rebels arrived in Tripoli.
  
  
• We studied how Ken Block's new hit video was taking off.
  
  
• We discovered how some fans/filmakers brought the game Portal into real life.
  
  
• And ImprovEverywhere created another hit by asking people to "Say Something Nice."

Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "El Delorean de Volver al Futuro en Cabildo y Juramento."

This week's Trends: extreme sports, waterspouts, rare snow

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:

• We watched New Zealanders enjoyed their "once-in-a-lifetime" snow storm.
  
  
• We dug into one of the more unique ways that people use YouTube to learn.
  
  
• We posted the first in our series exploring different types of YouTube "one-man-bands."
  
  
• We saw some on-the-beach footage from a waterspout in North Carolina.
  
  
• We learned that we've been peeling bananas wrong all these years.
  
  
• We enjoyed how one hostel employee's low-budget commercial went viral.
  
  
• We viewed some very talented dogs.
  
  
• And very popular driver Ken Block released an epic new stunt video with DC Shoes that quickly drew millions of views:

Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Blu-ray Rant."

This week's Trends: riots, runners, and tiny houses

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:

• We looked back at the most popular Spike Jonze music videos.
  
  
• We explained what that 'QWOP' thing is all about.
  
  
• We saw how Disney's theme park marketing has taken advantage of popular YouTube fads.
  
  
• We examined our recent fascination with tiny-home ownership.
  
  
• We enjoyed a collection of human feats, as collected by What's Trending.
  
  
• We saw some unfortunate drivers from around the world.
  
  
• And we tracked the riots in London as they began and spread, and later found that "riot" searches hit an all-time high this summer. A number of specific videos, like this one of a man confronting looters, drew significant interest in the UK and abroad:

Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends

Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Jay-Z & Kanye West - Otis."

This week's Trends: singers, whales, and animations

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:

• We studied the success of the Old Spice Guy vs. Fabio standoff.
  
  
• We watched an unexpected singing talent sprout up in the Philippines.
  
  
• We saw dramatic footage from an outbreak of violence in Syria.
  
  
• We tracked the popularity of Rebecca Black's "Friday" follow-up.
  
  
• We enjoyed some cool people-powered animations.
  
  
• We looked at intense video from a tornado in Russia.
  
  
• We found a big ad in Brazil and an unsettling cloud in Canada.
  
  
• We laughed as a beluga mariachi fan added itself to the list of recently popular aquatic mammals.
  
  
• And the world was introduced to the 2nd Avenue Sinatra:

Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends Kevin Allocca, YouTube Trends Manager, recently watched "Saved By the Bell Interactive Game."

This Week’s Trends: Rebecca/Rebekah, movie trailers, and the Marine Corps ball

Each weekday, we at YouTube Trends take a look at the most interesting videos and cultural phenomena on YouTube as they develop. We want take a moment to highlight some of what we've come across this week:

• We savoured both Rebecca Black’s new video and the Rebekah Brooks’ “Friday” parody
• We highlighted hits from four corners of the globe
• We searched for eyewitness footage from the dramatic stage collapse incident during the Cheap Trick Show in Ottawa
• We watched the “Dark Knight Rises” trailer, along with other summer blockbuster teasers
• We saw the latest round of celebrity date video invitations to the Marine Corps ball

Here, PFC Hart asks Miley Cyrus to be his guest for the ball:



Olivia Ma, YouTube News Manager, recently watched "Wendy Deng Murdoch Smacks Pie-Throwing Protester."

Check back every day for the latest about what's trending on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/Trends