Barbenheimer to Michelle Yeoh: These were the top Google searches in 2023

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Google has released its annual Year in Search 2023 lists which aim to showcase the trending topics, events and people that captured the attention of people most this year.

Closer to home, claiming and using CDC Vouchers ranked number one for trending how-tos and fourth place for trending Singapore news, which was unsurprising given the soaring costs of living.

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However, along with the rest of the world, Singapore witnessed an immense desire to have fun with Taylor Swift, ranking it as the top international personality following her upcoming Eras Tour which saw fans clamouring for tickets. As 2023 saw the sale of multiple concert tickets such as Coldplay and BLACKPINK, Ticketmaster also reached number one on the tending Singapore news list.

2023 was also a year of blockbusters with the same-day release of contrasting movies Oppenheimer and Barbie holding first and second place for the most trending movies globally. The same-day release also gave rise to the cultural phenomenon “Barbenheimer” as movie-goers created memes and dressed to celebrate both movies.

In fact, the Barbie live-action movie starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken saw multiple brand collaborations from Crocs to Flash Coffee. It also spawned the viral selfie generator that allows fans to insert pictures of themselves straight into Barbie Land.

Following Michelle Yeoh’s historic Oscar win for Best Actress for her role in Everything, Everywhere All At Once which made the top 10 list for trending international news, Yeoh also came out as the top three trending international personalities in Singapore and Malaysia. Yeoh is also the current brand ambassador of luxury fashion brand Balenciaga for its Spring 2024 campaign.

Amidst evolving world news, the war in Israel and Gaza was the top international news search while news of TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, defending his app’s right to remain legal in the US took eighth place.

Generative AI also took the world by storm in 2023 with Singaporeans taking to Google to find out more about the new technology. Searches on how to use ChatGPT was the second more searched how-to while OpenAI was the sixth most searched international news topic.

Mandai Wildlife Reserve’s Bird Paradise wildlife park was also the fifth most trending place in Singapore according to Google’s list. Earlier this year, it unveiled its ‘Take off to Paradise’, integrated campaign in partnership with creative agency, The Secret Little Agency, which spans film, activation, social and OOH assets.

Across the pond, MYAirline took fourth place among top news searches in Malaysia, following news of the troubled airline's sudden suspension and the arrest of its owner.

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