2023’s Most Searched Questions: A Deep Dive into Google’s Top Queries in the US and Canada
As 2023 comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the questions that captivated online curiosity over the past year. Whether it was exploring the backgrounds of trending personalities, navigating major events, or unraveling tech mysteries, people across the US and Canada turned to Google for answers. By analyzing Google Trends, this overview reveals the standout “who, what, when, where, why, and how” searches that set the web abuzz in both countries during 2023.
Key Insights from 2023’s Trending Google Questions
Google’s annual search data spotlights the topics that captured collective attention. In 2023, Americans and Canadians showed a mix of similar and region-specific curiosities driven by pop culture moments, technology shifts, and headline events. Here’s a snapshot of the year’s top trending searches:
- Who: “Who is Erin Carter” achieved breakout popularity on both sides of the border, fueled by Netflix’s hit series.
- What: “What is ChatGPT” surged to the top ‘what’ query in the US with a 2,700% rise, while Canadians were fascinated by “What kind of bird is Scuttle,” launching it to a 3,350% increase.
- When: “When are taxes due” became the leading ‘when’ question in America (up 3,250%), whereas Canadians saw a 4,400% leap in “When is Black Friday 2023” searches.
- Where: US viewers sought out “No Hard Feelings where to watch” (1,800% increase), while Canadian interest in “Where to watch The Last of Us” spiked by 1,750%.
- Why: “Why are actors striking” dominated US curiosity (1,600% surge), and Canadians wondered “Why is Twitter called X” (1,950% rise).
- How: “How to change background color Instagram story” climbed 2,650% in the US, with Canadians asking both “How to change time on Fitbit” and “How to delete Snapchat AI.”
US Search Trends: The Questions That Shaped 2023
In the United States, streaming hits and current affairs dominated search behavior. The phrase “Who is Erin Carter” topped the charts thanks to the buzz surrounding the Netflix thriller, while “Who won the Super Bowl 2023” reached viral status as fans relived Kansas City Chiefs’ victory.
Tech developments also made waves, with the question “What is ChatGPT” becoming America’s most popular ‘what’ query, reflecting the leap of artificial intelligence into mainstream awareness.
Seasonal tasks and deadlines kept people on their toes. Searches for “When are taxes due” surged by 3,250%, hitting their peak as the April 15th deadline loomed, highlighting nationwide anxiety around tax season.
When it came to entertainment discovery, Americans most frequently typed, “No Hard Feelings where to watch,” propelled by the movie’s 1,800% search surge during its streaming debut—demonstrating the power of digital releases and streaming recommendations.
Major industry news was on the public’s mind as well. The question “Why are actors striking” saw a 1,600% increase, signifying America’s engagement with the entertainment sector’s high-profile labor disputes.
Finally, as social media continues to evolve, users sought out practical digital guidance: “How to change background color Instagram story” experienced a 2,650% boost, underscoring the growing importance of online aesthetics for personal and professional purposes.
Canada’s Most Popular Google Questions in 2023
North of the border, Canadians joined Americans in fixating on Netflix’s “Who is Erin Carter”, with the query boasting breakout status nationwide. Sporting events captured significant attention, especially “Who won the Super Bowl 2023,” which saw searches rise by 4,800%—illustrating cross-border interest in major football events.
Curiosity about pop culture took an unusual turn with the question “What kind of bird is Scuttle?” (up 3,350%), as movie-goers puzzled over a character in the live-action Little Mermaid and turned to online communities for answers (the bird, it turns out, is a Northern Gannet).
Although Black Friday originated in the US, Canadians fueled a 4,400% spike in “When is Black Friday 2023” searches, reflecting the universal appeal of shopping discounts.
Prime TV content also drove searches in Canada. “Where to watch The Last of Us” soared 1,950%, showcasing widespread excitement around the Alberta-shot HBO hit. Related questions about filming locations also saw a sharp increase.
The digital rebranding of a major social platform caught national attention, as “Why is Twitter called X” became the top ‘why’ question after Elon Musk’s controversial renaming decision.
Canadians also faced tech quandaries in 2023. Both “How to change time on Fitbit” and “How to delete Snapchat AI” achieved breakout status, highlighting daily life’s increasing intersection with wearable tech and social media features.
Comparing National Curiosities: US vs. Canada
While both Americans and Canadians shared interests in trending entertainment and technology, some clear regional distinctions appeared:
- Entertainment topics, like new series and film releases, drove search traffic in both countries.
- Technological innovation (particularly ChatGPT) surged most in the US, while Canadians zeroed in on viral movie moments and tech troubleshooting.
- Annual events such as tax season and Black Friday inspired time-sensitive queries unique to each country’s calendar.
- Major rebranding and industry shakeups, such as Twitter becoming X and the Hollywood actors strike, also drove curiosity throughout 2023.
How the Data Was Gathered
This review is based on Google Trends analysis conducted in December 2023. The research focused on the most popular queries beginning with “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” “why,” and “how” in both the US and Canada. To ensure 2023-specific insights, the search window spanned January 1, 2023, to December 2023.
Using and Sharing the Data
The data and images featured in this article may be shared for non-commercial projects. Please credit the source and provide a direct link back to this page whenever redistributing or referencing this information.
