The Year 2023 in Review

This is the time to recap the year that was. And what a year it was.

There are a number of ways to do it, many that are interesting. You can look at a year in terms of notable deaths, viral events, political rises and falls, etc.

But how do you really get a 12-month snapshot of a culture’s zeitgeist?

I would argue for two words: Google searches.

I’m not saying that this will be what historians will mark in 10, much less 100 years… even less what is most significant. But I will say that it may be the clearest window into our current soul.

So here we go with a few peeks into our inner world in 2023, courtesy of Google itself.

Top 10 News Story Searches:

1. War in Israel and Gaza
2. Titanic submarine
3. Hurricane Hilary
4. Hurricane Idalia
5. Hurricane Lee
6. Maine shooting
7. Nashville shooting
8. Maui fire
9. Idaho murder trial
10. Canada wildfires

Top 10 “How often…” Searches:

1. How often do you think about the Roman Empire?
2. How often is the World Baseball Classic?
3. How often is a blue moon?
4. How often is the World Cup?
5. How often do trains derail?
6. How often is Friday the 13th in October?
7. How often should you get a COVID booster?
8. How often is the State of the Union?
9. How often does California get hurricanes?
10. How often is Punxsutawney Phil correct?

Top 10 “Explained” Searches:

1. The Menu explained
2. No One Will Save You explained
3. Silo explained
4. Reptile explained
5. Israel-Palestine conflict explained
6. Beef explained
7. White Noise explained
8. Loki ending explained
9. NBA In-Season Tournament explained
10. Title 42 explained

And finally, the Top 10 People Searches:

1. Damar Hamlin
2. Jeremy Renner
3. Travis Kelce
4. Tucker Carlson
5. Lil Tay
6. Andrew Tate
7. Carlee Russell
8. Jamie Foxx
9. Danny Masterson
10. Matt Rife

Welcome to our world.

James Emery White

Sources

See the “Year in Search 2023” for the United States, Google, read online.

About the Author

James Emery White is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC, and a former professor of theology and culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also served as their fourth president. His latest book, Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age, is now available on Amazon or from your favorite bookseller. To enjoy a free subscription to the Church & Culture blog, visit churchandculture.org where you can view past blogs in our archive, read the latest church and culture news from around the world, and listen to the Church & Culture Podcast. Follow Dr. White on X, Facebook and Instagram at @JamesEmeryWhite.

The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of CrosswalkHeadlines.

James Emery White is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC, and a former professor of theology and culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also served as their fourth president. His latest book, Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age, is now available on Amazon or from your favorite bookseller. To enjoy a free subscription to the Church & Culture blog, visit churchandculture.org where you can view past blogs in our archive, read the latest church and culture news from around the world, and listen to the Church & Culture Podcast. Follow Dr. White on X, Facebook and Instagram at @JamesEmeryWhite.