I’ve always been a sucker for lists. Even before listicles and Buzzfeed took over the internet, I remember sitting by my radio as a child listening to the year-end “Top 100 Countdown,” trying to guess the year’s top songs.
There’s something fun, nostalgic and maybe even therapeutic about looking back at year’s end and taking time to remember — remember the good times, reflect on the bad and consider how they might affect the future.
One fun list that comes out every year is Google’s “Year in Search,” which highlights the most popular Google searches of the year. This particular list (and accompanying video) gives real insight into our culture’s values and the big questions we all wrestle with. Aside from the searches for fidget spinners and “how to make slime,” there are some really heartbreaking reminders in this year’s search history.
Matt Ehresman 