The ongoing Israel-Hamas war and the imploding of a Titanic-bound submersible were among the top internet searches in 2023, according to Google’s global data. Other popular search queries included the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, as well as notable individuals like Damar Hamlin, the top trending person on Google this year. Hamlin, a safety with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, experienced a near-death cardiac arrest during a game but made a celebrated comeback.
In the entertainment industry, the movie Barbie dominated Google searches, followed by Oppenheimer and Jawan. For television shows, The Last of Us, Wednesday, and Ginny and Georgia were the top trending choices. The song アイドル (Idol) by Yoasobi topped Google’s trending music list, followed by Try That in a Small Town by Jason Aldean and Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53 by Shakira and Bizarrap.
Google’s 2023 search trends also revealed that Bibimbap was the top trending recipe, while Inter Miami CF, the new team of soccer superstar Lionel Messi, led the sports teams trends. In the United States, consumers were searching for answers to why eggs, Taylor Swift tickets, and sriracha bottles were so expensive. Additionally, rizz, recently named Oxford’s word of the year, was a popular search for slang definitions.
While Google’s Year in Search archive provides more data, it’s worth noting that Wikipedia also released its year-end list of most-viewed entries.
As the year comes to a close, people are reflecting on the digital landscape in 2023, with Google and other platforms offering insights into the topics and trends that captured our collective attention. From the ongoing conflict in the Middle East to personal stories of triumph and tragedy, the internet searches of this year paint a vivid picture of the world’s interests and concerns. As we eagerly anticipate what lies ahead, it’s clear that the internet will continue to be a window into our evolving cultural landscape.
Note: Data mentioned in this article is based on Google’s search trends for 2023 as stated in The Boston Globe.
