It’s time to get that thumb moving as we take a nostalgic scroll down memory lane.
Google has released an interactive tool dubbed the Trends Time Capsule, which provides a unique look at what the world has been searching for over the last 25 years.
Using the tool, you can explore everything from the most-searched TV shows to dog breeds since 1999.
‘The Google Trends Time Capsule outlines the top five “most searched” in a category each year from 1999 to 2023,’ the tech giant explained.
So, ever wondered what the most-searched sauce was in 2004, or the athlete that piqued the most interest in 2012? Scroll down to try the interactive tool yourself.
Google has released an interactive tool dubbed the Trends Time Capsule, which provides a unique look at what the world has been searching for over the last 25 years
Category | 1999 | 2023 |
---|---|---|
Anime | Dragon Ball Z | Attack on Titan |
Athlete | David Beckham | Lionel Messi |
Card Games | Pokemon | Solitaire |
Children’s TV | Teletubbies | SpongeBob SquarePants |
Dog Breed | Labrador | Bulldog |
Movie | Toy Story 2 | Barbie |
Reality TV | Big Brother | Love Island UK |
Sauce | Hot sauce | Tomato Sauce |
Soccer Players | David Beckham | Lionel Messi |
Soccer Teams | Liverpool FC | Real Madrid CF |
TV Shows | The Simpsons | Wednesday |
Video Games | Final Fantasy VIII | Minecraft |
Google created the interactive tool to celebrate 25 years of Google Search.
’25 years of Search has given us a lot to look back on, including nearly two decades of Trends data,’ Google said.
‘And as we discovered, our searches revealed a shared curiosity — around the world, we’re often inspired by the same moments and seek the same answers.’
To use the tool, you can use the drop down menu at the top of the screen, or click the ‘I’m feeling lucky’ button to be shown a random category.
Alternatively, you can scroll down to explore the 12 categories yourself, with options for Anime, Athletes, Card Games, Children’s TV, Dog Breeds, Movies, Reality TV, Sauces, Soccer Players, Soccer Teams, TV Shows, and Video Games.
In the Athletes category, Cristiano Ronaldo scored as the most-searched athlete for a staggering 10 years from 2007, before being pipped to the post by Conor McGregor in 2017.
Unsurprisingly, searches for Movies have been less consistent through the year, largely based on what topped the Box Office. In 1999, Toy Story 2 (left) was the most-searched movie, while Barbie (right) was the top search in 2023
When it comes to dog breeds, while our love for Labradors (left) was evident in the early 2000s, it was the Bulldog (right) who topped Google Searches from 2005
Across searches for Card Games, Solitaire and Poker have dominated for the past 25 years, although Pokemon was the most-searched game for an impressive five years from 1999 to 2003.
When it comes to dog breeds, while our love for Labradors was evident in the early 2000s, it was the Bulldog who topped Google Searches from 2005.
Unsurprisingly, searches for Movies have been less consistent through the year, largely based on what topped the box office.
In 1999, Toy Story 2 was the most-searched movie, while Twilight dominated in 2008, 2009, and 2011.
In the 2010s, superhero movies including Deadpool and the Avengers franchise flew above the rest, while Barbie pipped Oppenheimer to the post in 2023.
Since 2004, tomato sauce has maintained its-most searched status, while soy sauce has held a fairly consistent second place
Across searches for Card Games, Solitaire and Poker have dominated for the past 25 years, although Pokemon was the most-searched game for an impressive five years from 1999 to 2003
One of the more unusual categories is Sauces, which reveals we entered the new millennium with a craving for the classics.
Since 2004, tomato sauce has maintained its-most searched status, while soy sauce has held a fairly consistent second place.
Meanwhile, the TV shows category highlights the world’s love of The Simpsons.
‘Not only is The Simpsons the longest-running series, it has consistently been one of the most-searched TV series over the past 25 years,’ Google said.
Google has also included a fun quiz as part of the Trends Time Capsule.
At the top of the screen, click the yellow ‘Take the quiz!’ button to get involved.
The quiz includes six multiple-choice questions, asking you to select your favourite options across different categories.
At the end of the quiz, Google will reveals the years of your personal time capsule.