Cry Over Search Engines With Google’s Inspiring “Year in Search” Video

Google has released their annual “Year in Search” video, and I’ll be honest, this marketing ploy from a huge corporate brand always gets me a bit choked up. “In 2015 the questions we asked revealed who we are,” the video begins, and goes through some of the difficult issues and pivotal moments that people have grappled with in the last year.

Inspiring and thought-provoking questions include “how can i help the refugees,” “why can’t women be army rangers,” “how can we overcome prejudice” and “are you born transgendered,” displayed along with images like French citizens responding to the Paris attacks and the US Women’s Soccer Team celebrating victory. Playing over the top are emotional music and a voiceover from Caitlyn Jenner’s moving speech at the ESPY Awards. “It’s not just about one person,” she says. “It’s about thousands of people. It’s about all of us accepting one another.”

It’s a beautiful video and I cried a little. For a bit of context, however, Google also released the top ranked search terms of the year. The number one topic for Americans? Khloe Kardashian’s ex-ex-husband Lamar Odom ending up in the hospital after being discovered face-down in a brothel. Next on the list are “Jurassic World,” “American Sniper,” Caitlyn Jenner and Ronda Rousey.

So yes, Americans were dealing with some big questions in the last year – but they were also eager to be distracted by entertainment, celebrity gossip and lots of Kardashians. (And we at What’s Trending are HERE FOR YOU, everybody!)

Check out the full list of top Google search terms, with other crucial leading questions like “How to do the Kylie Jenner lip challenge,” “why do dogs wag their tail,” “where is Disneyland,” “what is 0 divided by 0” and “what is Ashley Madison.”