New York — Remember what you searched for in 2024? Google does. Google released its annual “Year in Search” on Dec. 10, rounding up the top trending queries entered on its namesake search engine throughout the year. The results provide insights showing the terms with the highest spike in traffic compared to last year, ranging from key news events such as global elections to the most popular songs, athletes, and unforgettable pop-culture moments sought by users worldwide.
Sports, particularly soccer and cricket, dominated Google's overall trending searches this year. Copa América led the list of global sports searches, followed closely by the UEFA European Championship and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, the U.S. presidential election significantly influenced news-related inquiries worldwide, with searches about excessive heat and this year's Olympic Games following closely behind.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump topped searches within Google’s people category for 2024. He was followed by several notable figures, including Catherine, Princess of Wales, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who led searches among athletes. The passing of prominent individuals, including singer Liam Payne and country artist Toby Keith, also spurred significant attention, highlighting the human connection to these trends.”
Entertainment-wise, Disney and Pixar's “Inside Out 2” emerged as the top trending movie of the year. On the television front, Netflix's “Baby Reindeer” captured viewers' interests, becoming the most searched TV show. Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar’s latest offering, “Not Like Us,” took the spotlight as the top song.
Interestingly, queries for the Olympic village's chocolate muffin, which achieved fame through Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen’s Instagram posts over the summer games, topped Google's global recipe trends for the year. The New York Times' “Connections” puzzle garnered attention too, becoming the most queried game among users.
Meanwhile, the U.S.-specific search trends revealed peculiar interests. Americans showed curiosity about terms like “demure” and “mob wife aesthetic,” reflecting cultural sentiments and shifting trends. Google emphasized the access to historical data, noting how, starting this year, users could retrieve search results even by zip code. This local focus allows people to connect more closely with their community's interests.
Comparative data from previous years shows the emotional zeitgeist and cultural shifts over time. For example, 2020 saw searches dominated by themes of loss and separation due to the pandemic, with terms like “coronavirus” taking the top overall global searches. The year also highlighted significant losses, with celebrities like Kobe Bryant and Chadwick Boseman capturing the public’s attention.
Moving on to 2021, the global conversation shifted to consequential events like Afghanistan and the COVID vaccine rollout. The cinematic experience remained popular, with movies like “Eternals” and “Black Widow” trending among viewers. The humanitarian calls for help were evident through searches focused on how to aid various global causes.
The following year, 2022, brought forth searches centered around significant events, like the passing of Queen Elizabeth and the war in Ukraine. With the world gradually returning to normalcy, searches about travel and entertainment ticketing significantly ramped up, indicating people’s eagerness to engage with life beyond their homes.
Last year, 2023, was equally tumultuous, concentrating on impactful news such as the Gaza-Israel conflict and natural disasters. The rising interest in technological tools like Google Lens revealed people’s desire to explore and learn about their surroundings, as reflected through practical searches on Google Maps.
Returning to this year's findings, national trends revealed the election’s prominence, with Donald Trump leading as the number one trending person. Actor Katt Williams also caught significant attention, alongside other entertainment searches, such as the latest movie “Inside Out 2” and music by Usher. Sports events captured interest, with Copa América once again topping global charts, alongside other major competitions influencing the search narratives.
This year's data is particularly unique, as Google Trends' ability to provide top searches by zip code offers granular insights reflecting individual community interests. For example, the zip code 44512 representing Youngstown, Ohio, showed distinct interests focusing on local Olympic champions, trending songs, and local events.
Overall, Google Trends’ recap not only reflects the collective memory of our society but also provides valuable insights allowing individuals and organizations to tap. The annual review becomes more than just numbers; it captures the pulse of global and local debates, joys, and interests.