Yahoo News has taken a moment to reflect on the past year, presenting the 2024 Year in Search Trends, which highlights what captivated users throughout the year. Instead of merely recounting the top stories, this report offers intriguing insights and tidbits showcasing the eclectic interests of internet users.
The report reveals a fascinating trend: Taylor Swift and Donald Trump reigned supreme among search interests. Users flocked to stories about the 14-time Grammy winner and former president, delineated by specific statistics. On average, 3% of stories read each month pertained to Swift, who dominated the digital space as she toured her ‘Eras Tour.’ Interestingly, Swift was the most searched celebrity across all 50 states. Kansas, particularly, exhibited high interest, as Swift and her partner, Travis Kelce, were the most and the second-most searched celebrities, respectively, and they even nabbed the ninth spot as a sought-after couple.
According to Yahoo's internal analytics, the peak of interest in Swift occurred around February, coinciding with the Super Bowl, garnering over 100 million views collectively on 5,000 articles detailing her activities. Perhaps more astonishing is the finding from Yahoo searches: there were more inquiries about Swift than there were for the next 36 music artists combined!
Nonetheless, interest wasn't limited to music alone. Articles centered around Family & Relationships emerged as the second most popular category, igniting quite the buzz among readers. Similarly, horoscopes showcased significant engagement, with users collectively spending 313,000 hours reading them—equivalent to 13,000 days—indicating just how intertwined this mystical interest is with daily life.
Astrology enthusiasts seemed particularly fond of Scorpio horoscopes, whereas interest waned with Gemini content, illustrating the varied preferences among zodiac sign aficionados. On the big screen, actress Sydney Sweeney topped the search charts, reflecting the audience's fascination with her recent endeavors.
Meanwhile, sports insights revealed Caitlin Clark as the most searched athlete of the year, outpacing even popular sports stars the Kelce brothers and Simone Biles. The data touches on wider patterns as well, highlighting user engagement through casual gaming on Yahoo Games, particularly peaking post-lunch at 2 p.m. A noteworthy mention was of one avid Mahjongg Solitaire player, who remarkably maintained a 242-day streak playing the game daily over eight months!
When analyzing regional differences, it became evident Vermonters indulged significantly more time playing games compared to their North Dakotan counterparts, spending seven times as much time on average. Food trends also gained traction as banana bread emerged as the most sought-after recipe on Yahoo Search, ranking first nationwide, except for Mississippi and Kansas.
With regard to online shopping, the Saker mini chainsaw topped the list as the favorite among Yahoo shoppers, illustrating consumer preferences as 2024 came to an end. Taking these insights forward, one can only speculate what the year 2025 may hold as users navigate their interests and online inquiries.
The information compiled by Yahoo Trends for 2024 was derived from internal analyses conducted from January to November, led by Robin Kwong and Coleen O'Lear. Contributions came from various team members, including Mark Bowers, Kent Johnson, Mike Bebernes, Jenn Rourke, and Ed Hornick, framing the narrative of the year as it unfolded online.
