Google released its annual “Year in Search” lists this morning recapping the most popular topics of 2023, according to our search habits.
Google has also released limited top trends by location. What does the data say about Triangle search habits?
In terms of concerts, Taylor Swift landed the top spot for the Triangle with Beyonce’s “Renaissance World Tour” at number two. Drake, Aerosmith’s “Peace Out” tour, and the Jonas Brothers rounded out top concert searches in our area.
For TV shows, the Triangle followed the worldwide trend of Googling “The Last of Us,” but the other 4 of the top 5 most searched TV shows differed. Apparently, we’re more interested in “The Night Agent,” “The Golden Bachelor,” “Daisy Jones & the Six,” and “Shrinking.”
Also interesting are the top “near me” searches – the search we make when seeking local support and services. The Triangle’s top five include:
- Air quality near me
- Plumber near me
- Pilates near me
- Pest control near me
- Optometrist near me
Popular national trends – ‘Titanic submarine’ to Travis Kelce
Much of the content was not a surprise. The War in Israel and Gaza topped the list for most searched News. The hit show “The Last of Us” came in at the top of the “TV Shows” list. In movies, “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” stuck together landing first and second place respectively.
Other results were a bit more interesting. While Taylor Swift didn’t land in the top 5 most searched musicians (this year’s top searched musician went to Shakira), her new beau Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce placed as the fifth most searched person of the year and third most searched athlete.
The “Titanic submarine” term came in at number two on the most-searched news terms after 5 people disappeared and were later found in their imploded deep-sea submersible. That news beat out the Turkey earthquake (#3) and Hurricanes Hilary (#4) and Idalia (#5) for top searches.
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One topic that didn’t show up on any list despite being a major talking point for the year was AI. Ultimately it’s up to Google what lists are shared. As for how the lists are populated, Google says only, “Lists are based on search terms that had the highest spike this year as compared to the previous year.”
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25 Years of Search
Google also celebrated 25 years of search with a “most searched moments” video. Some of the highlights include the 80s as the most searched decade, soccer as the most searched sport, and Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo as the most searched athlete. In entertainment, the Harry Potter movies had the most searched cast. SpongeBob was named the most searched cartoon, and Spiderman the most-searched superhero.
In more serious topics, nuclear fusion was the most searched “scientific breakthrough” and COVID, 9/11, and the Black Lives Matter movement all got mentions as touch points.
