New York, NY – America’s online search habits in 2025 reveal a chaotic blend of pop culture obsessions, economic anxieties and hyper-niche Gen Z humor. According to new trend data released this week, the year’s top searches ranged from toy collectibles to viral dating strategies, signaling another year where internet culture shaped national conversations in unexpected ways.
According to the report, the phrase “Searched for the first time” included a mix of meme-driven queries — “Gen Z stare,” “What the helly,” “Beaded sardine bag,” and “Tai chi walking.” Meanwhile, “Labubu rave” and “chicken jockey” surged as toy fandoms and gaming humor continued to influence youth culture.
In the XYZ of the Year category, Americans drove major spikes for terms like “Louvre detective,” “Olo” for color trends, and “Tralalero Tralala” under Italian Brainrot — all staples of TikTok’s rapid-fire meme cycle. Ballerina sneakers topped footwear searches, while azelaic acid led skincare ingredients.
Lifestyle searches also saw surprising winners. The collectible toy line Labubu hit an all-time high, “weighted vest” searches jumped 450 percent and early-2000s nostalgia fueled demand for Hollister drops and babydoll tops. Even niche items such as “boneless couch” saw record traffic.
Astrology remained a major pull, with top questions like “Why are Leos so attractive?” and “Why are Aquarius so stubborn?” trending nationwide. Internet behavior also reflected shifting cultural norms: the “performative male contest” became the year’s most-searched contest, with accessories like matcha, tote bags and books defining the aesthetic.
Entertainment searches were dominated by KPop Demon Hunters, which charted three of the top 10 songs and became the country’s No. 1 movie. Interest in C-dramas hit historic levels, led by Forever Was a Lie, while “recession pop” and death metal saw renewed attention.
Geographically, states including Florida and Wyoming searched for “huntrix” more often than “saja boys,” showing strong regional splits in fandom.
