# YouTube Culture & Trends

**Type:** Research division within YouTube/Google

**Focus:** Platform research and trend analysis for creator economy and digital culture

**Significance:** Institutional validation arm for YouTube's creator ecosystem, producing public research reports that frame platform trends for industry stakeholders

## Timeline

- **2026-04-09** — Released report on indie digital animation documenting 63% weekly viewership and 61% preference for indie over studio content among 14-24 year olds, explicitly positioning indie animation as a structural shift in entertainment consumption patterns

## Context

YouTube Culture & Trends functions as YouTube's institutional voice for validating creator economy trends to traditional media and advertising stakeholders. Reports carry platform authority and are designed to influence industry perception of creator-led content as commercially viable at scale.