Charlie Kirk, 31, who was assassinated while speaking with students at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, was the highest trending search of 2025 in the United States, according to data released by Google on Dec. 4.
Netflix's smash hit "KPop Demon Hunters" followed closely behind with Labubus third on the list of trending topics. The monster dolls, designed by Hong Kong-born illustrator Kasing Lung in 2015, are based on Nordic mythology, according to parent company Pop Mart. The toys have large heads, sharp teeth and big eyes while donning fuzzy pajamas and various vibrant outfits.
Google's data was taken from Jan. 1 through Nov. 25. The company said, "2025 Year in Search compiles the moments, people, topics, events and places that captured the world’s attention this year."
The tech company clarified that the lists compiled are of trending topics and should not be confused with the most searched topics by number of searches, as "those tend to change very little year to year."
"By looking at top trending searches, we’re identifying topics that saw huge spikes in 2025, which means they’re unique to this year compared to last year," Google explained.
Here are some of the trending searches and topics of 2025:
Does '6-7' make you feel old and out-of-touch? Here's why it's so popular.
Christopher Cann, Greta Cross, Phaedra Trethan 4-6 minutes 10/30/2025
Updated Oct. 30, 2025, 7:58 p.m. ET
How are you feeling? "6-7." How tall are you? "6-7." What time is it? "6-7."
This week, Dictionary.com announced "6-7" (pronounced "six-seven") as its Word of the Year , putting the nonsense internet slang trend that's exploded among Gen Alpha and Gen Z – and frustrated parents and teachers – back in the spotlight.
The phrase has been around for nearly a year and its meaning is fluid. The online dictionary said some people interpret it to mean "so-so" or "maybe this, maybe that" but it can also be used in isolation to draw laughter and sow confusion.
Because of its shifting meaning, Dictionary.com says its an example of "brainrot slang," which is intended to be "nonsensical and playfully absurd," like last year's " skibidi. "
For many adults, it's been a challenge to keep up with the verbal trends on social media sites like TikTok. But that's nothing new, experts say, especially in the age of the internet when trends can take hold faster than ever before.
"Older people have been rolling their eyes at the things younger people do and say for thousands of years," Jesse Sheidlower — a lexicographer, educator, editor and author who's served as president of the American Dialect Society and helped edit the Oxford English Dictionary — previously told USA TODAY .
"The whole point is that it’s not meant for you," he added.
How did the '6-7' trend start?
The origins of "6-7" tie back to the song "Doot Doot," released by rapper Skrilla in December 2024. In the song, Skrilla sings, "The way that switch, I know he dyin'. 6-7." The rapper has not revealed the meaning of "6-7" but some suggest it could be a reference to 67th Street in Skrilla's hometown of Philadelphia, according to Know Your Meme , a database for memes and internet slang.
After its release, the song was used to soundtrack basketball highlight videos of Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball, whose height is 6-foot-7. In the earliest videos, a sports commentator says Ball plays like he's 6'1, even though he's "6'7," at which point the song "Doot Doot" kicks in and the video shows a compilation of Ball's best moves on the court.
This format then spread beyond basketball. In one TikTok, a teen sings along to "Doot Doot" as a caption reads "me when i get a 67% on my test but all i hear is 6 7."
The word's popularity exploded with the “67 Kid" meme, which stems from an excited fan at a youth basketball game saying "6-7" to a camera as he moves his hands up and down, according to Know Your Meme.
The phrase and hand movements have since gained widespread traction among Gen Alpha and soon spread into the mainstream with sports commentators mentioning it and players using the hand gestures in celebrations.
The age of brain rot
A lot of Gen Z and Gen Alpha's slang comes from the internet, just not the same corners of the 'net that their parents are using.
"Popular slang in 2025 continues to be heavily influenced by TikTok, Instagram, gaming, streaming, Gen Z and Alpha online communities," Randoh Sallihall previously said in an email to USA TODAY. "Trends from social media spread rapidly via memes and viral challenges. Fueled by technology, our language adapts to new slang trends more rapidly than ever."
"6-7" is one of many recent viral phrases that has bewildered adults. Others include "skibidi," "SDIYBT," "rizz" and "sigma." While some of these words have meaning, many of them don't and are part of a growing trend of "brainrot slang," which are characterized by their absurdity.
Brain rot, which was the 2024 Oxford Word of the Year , is defined as the assumed deterioration of a person's mental state as the result of overconsumption of material online considered to be trivial or unchallenging.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
www.usatoday.com /story/news/nation/2025/12/04/year-in-search-2025-google/87589200007/
Top trending searches of 2025 revealed by Google. See what made the list.
Saman Shafiq 4-5 minutes
Updated Dec. 4, 2025, 12:34 p.m. ET
Zohran Mamdani , Erika Kirk and " KPop Demon Hunters " were among the top trending searches of 2025, Google's Year in Search has revealed.
Charlie Kirk, 31, who was assassinated while speaking with students at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, was the highest trending search of 2025 in the United States, according to data released by Google on Dec. 4.
Netflix's smash hit "KPop Demon Hunters" followed closely behind with Labubus third on the list of trending topics. The monster dolls, designed by Hong Kong-born illustrator Kasing Lung in 2015, are based on Nordic mythology, according to parent company Pop Mart. The toys have large heads, sharp teeth and big eyes while donning fuzzy pajamas and various vibrant outfits.
The government shutdown , the longest in the country's history , President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act and tariffs were also among the trending topics of the year.
Google's data was taken from Jan. 1 through Nov. 25. The company said, "2025 Year in Search compiles the moments, people, topics, events and places that captured the world’s attention this year."
Watch it here: Stream your favorite shows, the biggest blockbusters and more.The tech company clarified that the lists compiled are of trending topics and should not be confused with the most searched topics by number of searches, as "those tend to change very little year to year."
"By looking at top trending searches, we’re identifying topics that saw huge spikes in 2025, which means they’re unique to this year compared to last year," Google explained.
Here are some of the trending searches and topics of 2025:
Google's top trending searches of 2025
Google's trending people of 2025
Top searched deaths on Google in 2025
Trending actor on Google in 2025
Trending athletes on Google in 2025
Trending games in 2025
Trending movies of 2025
Trending TV shows in 2025
Trending musicians in 2025
Trending podcasts of 2025 on Google
Trending Gen Z slang on Google
- 6-7
- Sigma
- 41
- Skibidi
- Ohio
- Rizz
- Good boy
- Skibidi toilet
- Aura
- Chat
Does '6-7' make you feel old? Here's why it's so popular.Trending State Parks on Google Maps in 2025
View the full list for 2025 here .
I am so out of touch.
I'm so much more out of touch than you, but then I don't even have access to Google and use Microsoft Bing instead. .
Google and Bing are very similar.
I think Google is more comprehensive, and when China blocked Google I lost my gmail.
better than losing your Fe mail
LOL. We just yesterday celebrated our 17th anniversary.
Congratulations.
www.usatoday.com /story/news/nation/2025/10/30/6-7-slang-popular-meaning/86981428007/
Does '6-7' make you feel old and out-of-touch? Here's why it's so popular.
Christopher Cann, Greta Cross, Phaedra Trethan 4-6 minutes 10/30/2025
Updated Oct. 30, 2025, 7:58 p.m. ET
How are you feeling? "6-7." How tall are you? "6-7." What time is it? "6-7."
This week, Dictionary.com announced "6-7" (pronounced "six-seven") as its Word of the Year , putting the nonsense internet slang trend that's exploded among Gen Alpha and Gen Z – and frustrated parents and teachers – back in the spotlight.
The phrase has been around for nearly a year and its meaning is fluid. The online dictionary said some people interpret it to mean "so-so" or "maybe this, maybe that" but it can also be used in isolation to draw laughter and sow confusion.
Because of its shifting meaning, Dictionary.com says its an example of "brainrot slang," which is intended to be "nonsensical and playfully absurd," like last year's " skibidi. "
For many adults, it's been a challenge to keep up with the verbal trends on social media sites like TikTok. But that's nothing new, experts say, especially in the age of the internet when trends can take hold faster than ever before.
"Older people have been rolling their eyes at the things younger people do and say for thousands of years," Jesse Sheidlower — a lexicographer, educator, editor and author who's served as president of the American Dialect Society and helped edit the Oxford English Dictionary — previously told USA TODAY .
"The whole point is that it’s not meant for you," he added.
How did the '6-7' trend start?
The origins of "6-7" tie back to the song "Doot Doot," released by rapper Skrilla in December 2024. In the song, Skrilla sings, "The way that switch, I know he dyin'. 6-7." The rapper has not revealed the meaning of "6-7" but some suggest it could be a reference to 67th Street in Skrilla's hometown of Philadelphia, according to Know Your Meme , a database for memes and internet slang.
After its release, the song was used to soundtrack basketball highlight videos of Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball, whose height is 6-foot-7. In the earliest videos, a sports commentator says Ball plays like he's 6'1, even though he's "6'7," at which point the song "Doot Doot" kicks in and the video shows a compilation of Ball's best moves on the court.
This format then spread beyond basketball. In one TikTok, a teen sings along to "Doot Doot" as a caption reads "me when i get a 67% on my test but all i hear is 6 7."
The word's popularity exploded with the “67 Kid" meme, which stems from an excited fan at a youth basketball game saying "6-7" to a camera as he moves his hands up and down, according to Know Your Meme.
The phrase and hand movements have since gained widespread traction among Gen Alpha and soon spread into the mainstream with sports commentators mentioning it and players using the hand gestures in celebrations.
The age of brain rot
A lot of Gen Z and Gen Alpha's slang comes from the internet, just not the same corners of the 'net that their parents are using.
"Popular slang in 2025 continues to be heavily influenced by TikTok, Instagram, gaming, streaming, Gen Z and Alpha online communities," Randoh Sallihall previously said in an email to USA TODAY. "Trends from social media spread rapidly via memes and viral challenges. Fueled by technology, our language adapts to new slang trends more rapidly than ever."
"6-7" is one of many recent viral phrases that has bewildered adults. Others include "skibidi," "SDIYBT," "rizz" and "sigma." While some of these words have meaning, many of them don't and are part of a growing trend of "brainrot slang," which are characterized by their absurdity.
Brain rot, which was the 2024 Oxford Word of the Year , is defined as the assumed deterioration of a person's mental state as the result of overconsumption of material online considered to be trivial or unchallenging.