The Most Googled Topic In Each State in 2017

A brand new year typically calls for fresh starts, but we’d be remiss if we headed into 2018 without first looking back at the trending topics that dominated our computer screens in 2017. For those looking to indulge their digital nostalgia, The Daily Dot analyzed browsing habits across the nation by assembling a list of the year’s biggest headlines, events, and trends. They used Google Trends to determine which of these searched-for topics were the most popular in each state, and broke down their findings in a handy map.

Among 2017’s most memorable moments was the total solar eclipse that passed through the U.S. on August 21, 2017. Residents of Wyoming, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Indiana were all caught up in the viewing craze, and Googling terms related to the natural phenomenon. (Internet users in Arkansas hopefully managed to procure eclipse glasses before the big day, as they were the ones searching “Eye damage from solar eclipses.”)

Meanwhile, Floridians kept tabs on hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, while New Mexico residents were curious about Samsung’s first foldable phone, the still-unreleased Galaxy X. Net neutrality was a hot topic in Iowa; New Hampshire residents mourned rocker Tom Petty’s October 2, 2017 death; and moviegoers in Utah couldn’t get enough of DC blockbuster Wonder Woman. And amid 2017's numerous highs and lows, quirky topics like the Unicorn Frappuccino, a new Ken Doll’s questionable hairdo, and extinct giant penguins reigned supreme (and hopefully made people smile) in Washington, Ohio, and Michigan, respectively.

To see the most popular search term in your state, check out The Daily Dot’s full map here.