• by Alex Weprin , December 6, 2018

While YouTube began its life as a platform where anyone could upload and share their videos, it has since morphed into a video ecosystem of its own. User-generated content lives alongside thousands of channels run by professional creators,and channels operated by major media companies.

Now, YouTube is in the content business itself, ordering and producing original series.

YouTube’s 2018 list of the top 10 trending videos on the platform reflect that shifting use-case. In past years ,the list mixed viral videos with clips from shows like “The Late Late Show.” This year’s list skewed toward professional creators, with one YouTube original mixed in.

The No. 1 trending video was “To our daughter,” a surprise baby announcement from YouTube creator and social-media star Kylie Jenner. While the list is not based solely on views, the announcement garnered 53 million views in seven days. 

No. 2 was a video from Dude Perfect, a YouTube channel whose trick shot videos are routinely among the most popular on the platform. No. 3 was a video featuring creators Liza Koshy and David Dobrik, in which they announced they were breaking up. It “was probably one of the first YouTube creator insider-y things that people who don't really follow that stuff seemed to be very much aware of,” said Kevin Allocca, YouTube’s head of culture and trends, on Twitter.

Perhaps the most interesting video on the list wa sa YouTube original series: the first episode of “Cobra Kai.” It was the first original series from YouTube to make that cut.

The list also contained its fair share of viral fodder, including the “Yanny/Laurel” video and “Walmart Yodeling Kid.” 

The full list is below.

YouTube 2018 Top Trending Videos:

1. Kylie Jenner, “To Our Daughter“
2. Dude Perfect, “Real Life Trick Shots 2″
3. Liza Koshy and David Dobrik, “We Broke Up“
4. Mason Ramsey, “Walmart Yodeling Kid“
5. AsapSCIENCE, “Do You Hear ‘Yanny’ or ‘Laurel’? Solved With Science”
6. FIFA TV, “Portugal v Spain – 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – Match 3“
7. Primitive Survival Tool, “Build Swimming Pool Around Underground House“
8. YouTube Originals, “Cobra Kai” Episode 1, “Ace Degenerate”
9. Amit Bhadana, “Behan Bhai Ki School Life”
10. KhangProFilm, Lâm Chn Khang – “Ngi Trong Giang H Phn 6“