The 10% Rule: How to Spot What Actually Matters in Trending Topics
Cesar Espindola
Enablement & Revenue Operations Leader | Sales Strategy & CRM Optimization | KPI Dashboards | Process Improvement | Bilingual EN/ES
90% of what’s trending online is noise. The other 10%? It’s the signal — the rare items that can change your plans, your safety, or your wallet.
This week’s data proved it again.
The Fast Filter
To spot the 10% that matters, ask three quick questions:
Will this change my day-to-day?
Will it affect my health, finances, or safety?
Will it matter next week?
If you get three “no” answers, it’s background chatter.
This Week’s Signals
From dozens of trending topics, only five made the cut:
Chikungunya virus — Potential outbreak alerts.
Legionnaires' disease — Health risks tied to public spaces.
Milwaukee flooding — Infrastructure and local disruption.
United Airlines grounded flights — Widespread travel delays.
CDC guidance — Possible changes in health policy.
Everything else was entertainment, sports chatter, or one-day hype.
Why the 10% Rule Works
When you train yourself to scan for signal over noise, you:
Catch real risks earlier.
Make better decisions, faster.
Avoid wasting attention on things you can’t act on.
The point isn’t to avoid the fun stuff — it’s to know the difference between what’s worth following and what’s just passing by.
Your Turn
Look at today’s trending list. How much is the signal? How much is noise?
Drop your “top 10%” in the comments — I’m curious to see what you find.