With the year almost over, Google gave a glimpse at the year that was on YouTube, and once again, the platform reflected the pulse of pop culture and set the stage for emerging trends.
As it is with any year, there are a few key moments that dominate culture, and this year it seemed to be the 2024 Paris Olympics. Vancouver-based creator Jeenie Weenie (Sandra Kwon), a comedic talent who gained fame for her flight attendant skits, expanded her reach this year by reporting on Olympic highlights. Her engaging coverage helped her channel surpass 11.4 million subscribers, earning her a spot in YouTube’s exclusive 10-million-subscriber club.
The U.S. presidential election also captured attention, alongside the explosive success of Deadpool & Wolverine. The latter inspired dance trends on Shorts, with NSYNC’s Bye Bye Bye seeing a resurgence thanks to its inclusion in the film. Sabrina Carpenter, one of the year’s breakout artists, also found herself among trending topics, leveraging YouTube to deepen her connection with fans through creative content along with some of her music videos seeing over 200 million views.
It was not all about world events, with animated series Hazbin Hotel and Amazing Digital Circus becoming standout successes, while the competitive fashion game Dress to Impress sparked waves of community engagement. Canadian creators, including The Kalegoras Sisters, tapped into these trends to grow their channels. Launching in March, the sisters skyrocketed to 2.7 million subscribers with content focused on Dress to Impress challenges, lifestyle adventures and “fit checks.”
Top Trending Topics in Canada
- 2024 United States presidential election
- Amazing digital circus
- Brawl Stars
- Deadpool & Wolverine
- Dress to impress
- Hazbin Hotel
- Helldivers 2
- Olympic Games Paris 2024
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Sean Combs Scandal
On the music side, YouTube’s top songs of 2024 highlighted a variety of genres, with Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us taking centre stage amid the buzz of the Kendrick vs. Drake phenomenon. This rivalry spurred over 3.5 billion views globally on related content, showcasing YouTube’s role in amplifying music culture. Canadian-Punjabi artist Sukha also made waves with 8 ASLE, reflecting the continued global appeal of Punjabi music. We can not leave our relitive newcommer Benson Boon who managed to score the top spot on the youtube top song list with his track, Beautiful Things.
On the music side, YouTube’s top songs of 2024 highlighted a variety of genres, with Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us taking centre stage amid the buzz of the Kendrick vs. Drake phenomenon. This rivalry spurred over 3.5 billion views globally on related content, showcasing YouTube’s role in amplifying music culture. Canadian-Punjabi artist Sukha also made waves with 8 ASLE, reflecting the continued global appeal of Punjabi music. We cannot leave out relative newcomer Benson Boon, who managed to score the top spot on the YouTube top song list with his track, Beautiful Things.
Top Songs
- Benson Boone – Beautiful Things
- Teddy Swims – Lose Control
- Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)
- Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
- Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
- Post Malone – I Had Some Help (feat. Morgan Wallen)
- Eminem – Houdini
- Hozier – Too Sweet
- Jack Harlow – Lovin On Me
- SuKha – 8 ASLE (feat. Gurlez Akhtar)
Creators like Hafu Go (9.48 million subscribers) and Layla Roblox (6.5 million subscribers) demonstrated the diversity of content Canadians are seeking. Layla Roblox tapped into the gaming community with fashion-focused videos, while Hafu Go brought scientific curiosity and unique experiences to the forefront.
Even with the platform constantly evolving, it’s evident that YouTube remains a dynamic space for creators and fans alike. From Olympic highlights to animated adventures and viral dance trends, Canadians are making their mark in a digital age defined by connection and creativity.
