My question simply is what criteria does a post or topics needs to meet to consider it as "trending"?

my friend suggested we add up the likes, comments, and views in the last 24 hours, the post with the highest comes first.

please guys what are your thoughts

Could be the amount of views within a short time, that could predict a topic of interest, it could compare the jump

e.g Topic A at 1:30 had 20 views and 10 minutes later had 100 views and continuously once it reaches a large number it picks it up. because i noticed my topic hit FP however it depends on the quality of the topic because i wrote a real lot because i wanted to share with others.

so you suggesting that a topic should be considered trending, if within a short period of time it gains so much activities(i.e views, likes etc) even though another topic that was posted along side it gained much more activities but with a slower growth rate than the first

sorry i thought you were asking how topic gets picked for trending didn't know it was to profer a solution.

pcguru1:
...

e.g Topic A at 1:30 had 20 views and 10 minutes later had 100 views and continuously once it reaches a large number it picks it up. because i noticed my topic hit FP however it depends on the quality of the topic because i wrote a real lot because i wanted to share with others.

Your scenario could be a good basis for "trendy" topics, perhaps exponentially valuing each share/quote as well.

You're also right in that I think mods ultimately decide what's FP worthy.