The current thing (trends)

Essay
Data
Images
Dec 26, 2022
Current-trends
Remember how "The Will Smith Slap" was what EVERYONE IN THE PLANET was talking about for a while? Whatever happened to that? Then everyone was talking about the Johnny Depp divorce thing. Then everyone was talking about Iran.... Some topics capture the public imagination, and the whole world gets obsessed for a short period of time....then moves on. This is known as  "The Current Thing." Here's some cool visualizations of "The Current Thing" from 2022: Or here's some more "Current Thing" for 2021: This cycle seems to play out across every industry, every country, and every group...it's cool to see it in visual form like above!  

Image Description

The image is a graph showing 2022 search trends, with peaks for various topics like Covid, NFTs, the Ukraine War, and the Will Smith incident. It visually represents how certain topics capture massive attention for a time.

Positive Aspects

This image is a fantastic visual representation of the blog’s central point: the fleeting nature of popular trends, known as "The Current Thing." By showing real search trends, it makes the concept tangible and relatable.

Key Takeaways

  • Fleeting Trends: Public attention shifts rapidly from one major topic to another, as seen with events like the Will Smith slap and the Johnny Depp divorce.
  • Global Obsession: Certain topics captivate the entire world, creating a shared focus across diverse audiences.
  • Visual Insights: Graphs and visualizations effectively illustrate the rise and fall of popular topics over time.

Additional Insights

Remember when everyone was playing Wordle? It’s a perfect example of how trends can be universally engaging yet temporary. It’s fascinating to see how these trends overlap, reflecting not just cultural interests, but also the unpredictable nature of global events.