What were Bakersfield's and America's mostsearched questions in 2024?
Dec 11, 2024
(NEXSTAR) – A total solar eclipse, Taylor Swift Super Bowl mania and Elmo checking in on the country's mental health were just a few stops on our wild ride through 2024 – one that left us searching for answers to many of the same questions.
America questioned many things, including some basics like the words we use to communicate with each other. Whether out of a desire to better understand Generation Alpha, or just a grammar gut check, these were the top results for "is ... a real word," according to Google Trends:
Demure
Beaut
Sigma
Funner
Skibidi
We also learned about ennui, "a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction," according to Merriam-Webster, with Google searches spiking after the June 2024 release of hit Pixar film "Inside Out 2," which features a character based on the emotion.
See the 10 most searched for slang words of 2024
Instead of cooking, Americans were more interested in a recipe related to the AI-based online game Infinite Craft, which allows you to combine basic elements like "water," "wind," and "fire" to unlock others. The top results for "how to make ... " in 2024 were "how to make human in infinite craft" and "how to make life in infinite craft."
Meanwhile, in Bakersfield, people spent their time using Google to search for things near them. Voting information was important as some Kern County and Bakersfield residents got the chance to vote in primaries, special and general elections.
And, it seemed, many in Bakersfield were making sure they were prepared for whatever may be next:
Life insurance near me
Homeowners insurance near me
Voting near me
4DX movie theater near me
Pizza deals near me
Another major event marking 2024 was the Paris Olympics, which had Americans wondering just "how heavy" various things were. The top three queries were for the shot put, hammer throw and discus, in that order.
People in Bakersfield searched for the Olympians who made headlines.
Simone Biles
Anthony Edwards
Scottie Scheffler
Imane Khelif
Noah Lyles
We also formed new relationships and questioned existing ones in 2024. The top search for "when should ..." was "when should a relationship become exclusive." "Is it okay to have doubts in a relationship" was the other top relationship search.
Breaking down some of 2024's top search topics by city – you can find yours here – also revealed some interesting differences.
The overall top trending song of the year was "Not Like Us" by Kendrick Lamar. "The Alchemy" by Taylor Swift was most searched in only one U.S. city – Kansas City, Missouri.
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There were also music "sister cities" with the exact same top 5 trending songs. Residents of Buffalo, New York; and Columbus, Ohio searched these hits in equal measures:
Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar
Espresso - Sabrina Carpenter
Houdini - Eminem
Euphoria - Kendrick lamar
Good Luck, Babe! - Chappell Roan
Bakersfield residents searched for Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish's latest smash hits.
Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar
BIRDS OF A FEATHER - Billie Eilish
Euphoria - Kendrick Lamar
Gata Only - Cris MJ and FloyyMenor
Die With A Smile - Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
But with 2024 nearly over, what are Americans wondering about the year ahead?
On Wednesday, the hottest "2025" Google searches included questions about the lineup at Dreamville Music Festival in April, the MLB draft, and who the coaches will be on "The Voice."