Home / Toronto / News / Here are 2023’s Hottest Topics, Trends and Google Searches

Here are 2023’s Hottest Topics, Trends and Google Searches

023 has been a wild ride of trends! From the fake online sale of Taylor Swift Toronto concert tickets to the amusing spectacle of CHAT GPT churning out essays for the kids. 2023 has made a galaxy far, far away more popular than ever as Star Wars streaming shows are trending on Disney +.

Table of Contents

Worst Box Office Ever

In the realm of movie entertainment, Marvel faced a significant setback as The Marvels experienced the worst box office performance among superhero films, surpassing even the financial struggles of the DC World’s The Flash. On the flip side, the small screen witnessed a mesmerizing success with the streaming show adaptation of the video game “The Last Of Us,” proving that the transition from gaming to TV can be exceptionally thrilling.

Actors and Writers Striking

Notably, there was a prolonged strike involving both actors and writers that persisted for months. A major concern driving the strike was the fear among actors that advancements in AI could easily recreate their images in the future, leaving them without compensation for their work. This underlying anxiety about the potential consequences of evolving technology played a significant role in the duration and intensity of the strikes.

Top Shows Canadians Watched In 2023

“The Last of Us,” “Only Murders in the Building,” “Yellowstone,” “Ahsoka,” “Poker Face,” “Outer Banks,” “You,” “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story,” “Wednesday,” “The Glory,” “Ginny & Georgia,” and “The Night Agent” are all diverse shows covering different genres, so it’s possible that some of these gained popularity in Canada based on viewer preferences.

Top Movies At The Canadian Box Office 2023:

Barbie

The Super Mario Bros Movie

Spiderman: Across the SpiderVerse

Guardians of the Galaxy 3

Oppenheimier

The Little Mermaid

Avatar: The Way Of The Water

Antman and The Wasp: Quanimania

Shohei Ohtani, you're going to Hollywood! pic.twitter.com/V8Z8n79YHq— MLB (@MLB) December 12, 2023

$700 million?

Sports enthusiasts were abuzz with excitement over Victor Wembanyama, the towering 7’5 generational player from France, who took the sports scene by storm. Meanwhile, Jays fans experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, initially hyped about the prospect of signing free agent Shohei Ohtani, only to realize that the Jays were never really in the running, talk about a curveball! Apparently the Dodgers offered $700 million – $200 million more than the Blue Jays.

Time Travel

The scientific community witnessed a groundbreaking moment with the debut of the first-ever telescope capable of travelling back in time to the start of the universe. Suddenly, the concept of the Big Bang as the reason for creation became a cosmic mystery.

Hamas Terrorist Attack

On the global stage, amidst the serious note of conflict, CNN had to shift gears from non-stop coverage of Trump’s legal battles to report on the real-world impact of events like the Hamas attack on Israel. And speaking of Trump, rumors swirled about secret documents hidden in one of Mailago’s numerous washrooms.

COVID-19

In the realm of health, the mask-wearing trend took a backseat as people began caring less about the fear of contracting Covid and became more concerned about being shot from some out of control rally in downtown Toronto.

Pronouns

Let’s not forget pronouns. The question “What are your pronouns?” has evolved from a seemingly innocent inquiry to a common practice. Pronouns are now prominently featured in social media bios, email signatures, and conference name tags. Even high-profile figures like Vice President Kamala Harris (she/her) and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (he/him) incorporate their pronouns in public profiles.

Beyond the traditional binary pronouns, the singular “they/them” is embraced by “nonbinary” individuals who don’t identify strictly as male or female. Additionally, a growing array of bespoke “neopronouns” like “ze/zir” or “fae/faer” have emerged. There are even more unconventional “noun-self” neopronouns such as “bun/bunself,” which, as per the New York Times, encompass identities that may extend to animals and fantasy characters.

A recent survey conducted among 40,000 “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth” in the U.S. revealed that a significant 25% exclusively use pronouns other than she/her and he/him, underlining the increasing diversity and fluidity in how individuals express their gender identity.

Google’s most searched news & events stories in Canada were:

1. Women’s World Cup

2. ICC Cricket World Cup

3. War in Israel and Gaza

4. Jeremy Renner

5. Inter Miami

6. Titan submersible

7. Hurricane Lee

8. Chandrayaan-3

9. Temu

10. Turkey-Syria earthquake

Google’s most searched people in Canada were:

1. Jeremy Renner

2. Danny Masterson

3. Lil Tay

4. Tucker Carlson

5. Brendan Fraser

6. David Beckham

7. Pedro Pascal

8. Jenna Ortega

9. Bruce Willis

10. Jamie Foxx

10 of the most absurd style trends of 2023

Huge shoes. …
Extreme cutouts. …
Bleached eyebrows. …
Catwalk chaos. …
Double denim. …
Otherworldly chic. …
Underwear as outerwear. …
Big shapes.

Finance 2023

Economically, interest rates continued their upward climb, creating a daunting scenario where the dream of home ownership became nearly unattainable for most families. Simultaneously, the average rent in Toronto soared to over $2,500 for a one-bedroom unit. When factoring in the additional strain of groceries, which have spiked by almost 10% over the past few years, one can’t help but wonder if the dystopian future often portrayed in novels might be approaching sooner than we’d like. The financial landscape paints a challenging picture for individuals and families striving for stability and a place to call home.

Summing up 2023

The trends of 2023 brought a whirlwind of cultural shifts across various domains. Entertainment saw Marvel facing a box office stumble with The Marvels, contrasting the small screen’s triumph in the streaming adaptation of “The Last Of Us.” In sports, the 7’5 generational player Victor Webbanyani captured enthusiasts’ attention. Meanwhile, the technological frontier advanced with the debut of a time-traveling telescope, challenging our understanding of the universe. On the global stage, geopolitical events like the Hamas attack on Israel shifted media focus. Socially, the widespread adoption of diverse pronouns and the fading mask-wearing trend reflected evolving norms. In finance, economic challenges prompted a redefinition of the “good life,” while the luxury sector prioritized well-being. Amidst it all, the year showcased eclectic fashion trends, and AI, especially CHAT GPT, emerged as a prominent and transformative force in communication and content creation.