As 2024 comes to a close, we’re looking back at the top trending searches, from global sporting events to viral internet sensations that captivated our curiosity.
Top trending sports moments
2024’s major athletic events had us tuning in to (and searching for) epic sporting moments. “Copa América” and the “UEFA European Championship” led the top trending searches globally. And other athletic events inspired several trends categories: “Usher” was the top trending musician in the U.S. following his halftime show, while “Olympics chocolate muffins” was the top trending food and drink recipe globally after Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen went viral for showcasing his love for them.
Top trending news moments
Global interest in elections surged this year, as nearly half the world’s population went to the polls. Across the globe, “U.S. Election” was the top trending news search, and presidential candidates “Donald Trump” and “Kamala Harris” were among the top trending people.
Top trending pop culture moments
“Inside Out 2” was the top trending movie of the year, while “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar was the top trending song globally. In August, a viral social media video sent Americans in pursuit of understanding exactly what “demure meaning” was.
Top trends on Circle to Search, Lens and Maps
This year, people searched in new and more effortless ways. When people used Lens and Circle to Search, they most often used it for translation, shopping, and identifying things. They also combined the phrase “how to use” with their visual searches, using our multimodal technology to search using both text and images at once – gaining a deeper understanding of what they saw or needed help with.
People also sought out new experiences: On Google Maps, Italy’s Arena di Verona and Las Vegas’ Sphere were the top searched stadium and U.S. visitor attraction, respectively.
‘How to…’
Despite little concern for when the general election was, many people were interested in how they could participate in it, with the question ‘how to vote in the UK’ topping searches.
Other popular “how to” questions asked by Britons included how to watch Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s bout in the ring, as well as ‘how to see the Northern Lights’ which were visible far more often in the UK than in previous years – and led to some spectacular snaps.
1. Vote in the UK
2. Get Oasis tickets
3. Watch Fury vs Usyk
4. Watch Tyson vs Paul
5. Make a pornstar martini
6. Watch the Olympics
7. See the Northern Lights
8. Block someone on TikTok
9. How to make life in infinite craft
10. Vote for the UK in Eurovision
Angelina Mango, Trump, Israel most Googled in Italy
Sanremo song contest winner Angelina Mango, Donald Trump, and Israel were among the most Googled items in Italy in 2024, the search engine said Tuesday.
Also making the top-search grade were the deaths of Sandra Milo, Totò Schillaci and Alain Delon, artistic gymnastics, the Paralympic games and the meaning of the words dissing, intersexual and stop the genocide (in Gaza), it said.
Mangano topped the personalities list ahead of Princess of Wales Kate Middleton who surged after her cancer diagnosis and return to public life, and Jasmine Paolini, the first Italian tennis player to reach the Wimbledon final.
The ranking also featured prominently Trump, who won the US elections in a shock comeback, and the intersex Algerian boxer Imane Khelif.
Among the most FAQs were why is Iran attacking Israel, or Israel attacking Lebanon.
While among the ‘what does it mean’ category in first place was “All eyes on Rafah”, the pro-Palestinian slogan popular on social media, followed by intersex, Stop the genocide and dissing, and an exchange of jokes in rap that has come to the fore after Fedez crossed swords with Tony Effe.
Among the curiosities, users asked how to dress in the Frasassi caves and what to do in Durres in Albania, while the most searched recipe is Crumbl cookies and among the ‘how to make’ queries, homemade mayonnaise.
Source: Google
