September marked a quarter of a century since Google’s inception.
It wasn’t long before it became the most-used internet search engine, with its popularity so widespread the word ‘google’ earned a spot in the Oxford English Dictionary in 2006.
This year was one of contentious debates and discussions, and many of these topics were reflected in Google’s top searches for 2023.
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The top trending search in Australia was the Optus outage, when 10 million customers woke up, checked their phones and found out they had no signal or internet access.
The disaster, caused by a software update, led to Melbourne’s entire train network shutting down and phone lines at hospitals being impacted.
Following the outage, CEO Kelly Rosmarin resigned and customers were given extra data as compensation.
The second most searched for new topic in Australia was the Israel-Gaza war.
The latest conflict between Israel and Hamas has been devastating.
More than 1200 people were killed and about 240 people taken hostage during the brutal Hamas incursion into Israel on October 7, while more than 17,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the months following that attack as the Israel Defence Forces attempt to wipe out the militant group.
Across the globe, among the most searched questions of 2023 were: “Why are Israel and Hamas at war?” And “Why is the Gaza Strip so important?”
Earlier this year, Australians were introduced to the idea of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament when the Federal Government proposed a referendum to have the Voice enshrined in the constitution, but it did not succeed.
There was at times heated debate and accusations of misinformation, which was reflected in Google searches, with Australia’s third top searched news event being the Voice Referendum.
The 2023 Women’s World Cup saw Australia throw its support behind the national woman’s team, the Matildas, who secured a spot in the semi-finals but ultimately lost to England 3-1.
Two of the team’s star players, Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler, became the most searched Aussies on Google, while “how to watch the Women’s World Cup?” was Australia’s top ‘how to’ question.
Google said looking back across two decades of search trends, soccer is the most searched sport globally.
Portuguese soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Al Nassr FC, was the most searched athlete globally.
In Australia, cricket was the most searched sport, while former cricket star Michael Clarke was the third most searched Aussie. It may have something to do with his very public park brawl with TV presenter Karl Stefanovic.
In the entertainment world, 2023 was a battle between blockbusters Oppenheimer and the Barbie movie, with some labelling the phenomenon Barbenheimer.
Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, may have been the biggest movie of the year, topping $US1.38 billion in global ticket sales, compared to $US900 million in sales for thriller Oppenheimer.
But in terms of Google searches, Oppenheimer was ranked first place in Australian entertainment searchers, followed by the Barbie movie.
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, which hits Australia in 2024, saw fans sleeping outside venues in Melbourne and Sydney to secure tickets.
It’s now been named the first tour to cross over the billion-dollar mark in sales, so it’s no shock that “Taylor Swift tickets” was the third most popular entertainment search term in Australia.
Globally, Taylor Swift was the most searched songwriter.
Full list of trending Google searches for 2023
Most searched news events
- Optus outage
- War in Israel and Gaza
- Referendum results
- Andrew Tate
- Earthquake Melbourne
- Submarine
- Turkey earthquake
- Chandrayaan-3
- Russell Brand
- NSW election results
Most searched Aussies
- Sam Kerr
- Mary Fowler
- Michael Clarke
- Reece Walsh
- Dan Andrews
- Bianca Censori
- Tim Tszyu
- Kathleen Folbigg
- Ellie Carpenter
- Lidia Thorpe
Most searched sports
- Cricket World Cup
- Ashes
- Women’s World Cup
- Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury
- BBL
- Champions League
- UFC 294
- FA Cup
- LIV Golf
- United Cup
Most searched recipe(s)
- Coronation quiche recipe
- Grimace shake recipe
- Coronation chicken recipe
- CWA Anzac biscuit recipe
- Chicken Honolulu recipe
- Lamb stew recipe
- Porn star Martini recipes
- Marry me chicken recipe
- Chicken and leek pie recipe
- Modak recipe
Most searched entertainment topics
- Oppenheimer
- Barbie movie
- Taylor Swift tickets
- Connections
- Hogwarts Legacy
- The Last of Us
- Everything Everywhere All at Once
- Quordle
- John Wick 4
- Avatar
Most searched people who died in 2023
- Matthew Perry
- Jock Zonfrillo
- Sinead O’Connor
- Tina Turner
- Cal Wilson
- Ken Block
- Lisa Marie
- Barry Humphries
- Johnny Ruffo
- Angus Cloud
Most searched ‘How to…” question
- How to watch Women’s World Cup
- How to lock Facebook profile
- How to vote referendum
- How to solve a Rubik’s Cube
- How to get rid of my AI on Snapchat
- How to get Snapchat AI
- How to vote early
- How to watch Rugby World Cup
- How to get Taylor Swift tickets
- How to watch The Ashes in Australia
Most searched DIY/’How to make…’ question
- How to make a paper popper
- How to make rosemary water for hair
- How to make kinetic sand
- How to make slime without activator
- DIY Valentine’s gift for him
- DIY Easter basket
- DIY ice bath
- How to make vision board
- How to make an invoice
- How to make a kite
Most searched ‘why is…’ question
- Why is Israel and Hamas at war
- Why is Optus down
- Why is Twitter called X
- Why is Book Depository closing
- Why is Gwyneth Paltrow in court
- Why is my phone on SOS
- Why is the Gaza Strip important
- Why is Camilla being crowned Queen
- Why is Sam Kerr not playing today
- Why is Oppenheimer rated R
Most searched meanings
- SNAFU meaning
- Ennui meaning
- Guano meaning
- Hamas meaning
- Ardour meaning
- Implosion meaning
- Craven meaning
- Credo meaning
- Pique meaning
- Locus meaning