This year’s global news cycle was filled with numerous memorable events—from Taylor Swift’s unstoppable rise and the Paris Summer Games to strange weather patterns, the premieres of Deadpool & Wolverine and Dune, and significant elections. From January to December, there was no shortage of major stories.
As the year comes to a close, it’s time to dive deep, category by category, into the most captivating topics for online audiences in the countries where Taboola monitors readership.
Taboola put together a snapshot of the full readership categories and the top stories that defined them. We’ve broken down top topics both in the U.S. and globally, providing a comprehensive view of what captured readers’ attention. The analysis accounts for hundreds of millions of views by readers of news articles on the Taboola publisher network worldwide, from January 1 through November 12.
U.S. Topics
Top News Stories
Unsurprisingly, the election was the story of the year, attracting a staggering 42.6 billion pageviews. From the Democratic Party’s switch from Joe Biden to Kamala Harris, to chaotic debates, policy issues, and Election Day on November 5, there was no shortage of conversations to be had. The election captivated global audiences, with high-stakes discussions about healthcare, climate change, and national security. The dramatic shift in leadership, coupled with intense voter turnout and surprising levels of misinformation, ensured that political news remained at the forefront throughout 2024. It was a year of not just political power shifts, but also significant cultural and social debates, making this election one for the history books.
Top News Stories by Pageviews:
| News Story | Total Pageviews |
| Election | 42,614,562,000 |
| Midnights: Taylor Swift’s Album | 2,677,710,600 |
| Olympics | 1,752,453,800 |
| NFL Draft | 892,239,000 |
| Boeing Aircraft Issues | 558,109,400 |
| Jeffrey Epstein Files Made Public | 255,356,400 |
| Met Gala | 141,887,800 |
| Kentucky Derby | 124,797,600 |
| US Open | 119,623,200 |
| Alec Baldwin Involuntary Manslaughter | 93,424,600 |
Top People in Business
Business and money go hand in hand, so it’s no surprise that the richest person in the world—Elon Musk, with a net worth of $263 billion—is the most-read-about person on our list of business figures, reaching over 1 billion pageviews. Musk’s diverse business ventures, spanning electric vehicles, space exploration, AI, neurotechnology, and social media, have solidified his position as one of the most influential people globally. Additionally, his recent association with President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming presidency has only increased his public visibility.
Top People in Business by Pageviews:
| Business Leader | Total Pageviews |
| Elon Musk | 1,027,072,000 |
| Jeff Bezos | 144,023,000 |
| Mark Zuckerberg | 114,264,400 |
| Tim Cook | 23,468,400 |
| Bob Iger | 21,351,200 |
| Sergey Brin | 15,778,400 |
| Larry Page | 8,297,800 |
| Satya Nadella | 6,970,800 |
| Jensen Huang | 6,132,600 |
| Reed Hastings | 4,952,000 |
Top TV Shows
When it comes to the top U.S. TV show of 2024, Hacks wins by readership, amassing 102.6 million pageviews. Hacks combines smart, character-driven writing with strong performances, particularly from Jean Smart, and offers a fresh perspective on the comedy world. It sheds light on an unlikely, special friendship between comedian Deborah and LA writer Ava, despite their nearly 45-year age gap. Overall, Hacks balances humor with heart, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking—and its renewal for season 4, set to air in 2025, proves how impactful the series has become.
Top TV Shows by Pageviews:
| TV Show | Total Pageviews |
| Hacks: Season 3 | 102,664,000 |
| Batman: Caped Crusader: Season 1 | 685,564,00 |
| Sunny: Season 1 | 55,423,400 |
| True Detective: Night Country | 36,333,600 |
| Fallout: Season 1 | 33,034,600 |
| Shōgun: Limited Series | 20,131,800 |
| Baby Reindeer: Limited Series | 19,902,200 |
| The Boys: Season 4 | 16,964,000 |
| Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 12 | 15,889,200 |
| Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist: Limited Series | 10,205,600 |
Top Award Shows
Among the many popular awards shows hosted throughout the year, the Oscars dominates as the most-read-about, with a staggering 643.7 million pageviews. This year’s Oscars show will be remembered for a series of unforgettable moments, from the playful Barbenheimer banter between Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling, which sparked widespread buzz and memes, to Jon Cena’s bold outfit when presenting the Best Costume Award (hint: it didn’t involve clothes).
There were also standout performances by Ryan Gosling, who brought his signature charm with “I’m Just Ken,” and Billie Eilish, whose hit “What Was I Made For?” captivated the crowd. Jimmy Kimmel’s Donald Trump roast, which had everyone talking the morning after, added political satire to the event. Additionally, heartfelt acceptance speeches from Emma Stone, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Robert Downey Jr. captured the emotional highs of the night, making this year’s Oscars not only a celebration of films, but also a reflection of broader cultural moments.
Top Award Shows by Pageviews:
| Award Show | Total Pageviews |
| Oscars | 643,717,200 |
| Grammys Awards | 157,248,000 |
| Golden Globes Awards | 71,150,000 |
| SAG Awards | 43,368,800 |
| CMA Awards | 15,028,000 |
| People’s Choice Awards | 14,265,200 |
| Tony Awards | 10,848,600 |
| Video Music Awards | 10,117,800 |
| ESPY Awards | 9,056,400 |
| Academy of Country Music Awards | 5,843,400 |
Global Topics
Top Athletes
The 2024 Paris Summer Games drew in massive worldwide excitement—in fact, NBCUniversal reports that viewership for the Paris Games, led by NBC and Peacock, saw an 82% increase compared to the 2020 Tokyo Games, with an average of 30.4 million viewers and the Opening Ceremony attracting 28.6 million, the most since 2012. When it comes to the most-read-about athletes globally, we were surprised to learn that the top five on our list did not compete in the Summer Games—proving the worldwide interest in different types of sports and teams.
Shohei Ohtani, star Japanese baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers (and 2024 World Series Champions) came in at first place with the most global pageviews totaling over 1.9 billion. And although the World Series is an American sporting event, Taboola’s readership data revealed that Japan actually had more online interest in the World Series than the U.S., thanks to widespread support for Ohtani and the Dodgers.
Top Athletes by Pageviews:
| Athletes | Total Pageviews |
| Shohei Ohtani | 1,928,698,000 |
| Kylian Mbappé | 1,592,055,400 |
| Christiano Ronaldo | 878,879,400 |
| Lionel Messi | 817,914,200 |
| Patrick Mahomes | 693,661,800 |
| Novak Djokovic | 689,135,400 |
| Caitlin Clark | 605,464,800 |
| Mookie Betts | 570,994,800 |
| LeBron James | 451,720,400 |
| Neymar | 358,809,000 |
Top Musicians
Taylor Swift may be “Miss Americana,” but she’s certainly “Miss Worldwide” according to Taboola’s readership data. Ramping up in 2023 and continuing throughout 2024, Taylor Swift proved to be unstoppable and dominated the news cycle for her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” worldwide tour and movie, high-profile relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce, and ongoing “Easter Eggs” unveiling new surprises to her fans. Taylor Swift is the #1 most-read-about musician, amassing over 3.2 billion pageviews, and we weren’t surprised.
Top Musicians by Pageviews:
| Musicians | Total Pageviews |
| Taylor Swift | 3,291,045,600 |
| Kanye West | 777,805,200 |
| Ed Sheeran | 526,531,000 |
| Beyoncé | 380,216,600 |
| Adele | 260,051,600 |
| Drake | 229,592,800 |
| Katy Perry | 221,367,000 |
| Justin Bieber | 205,383,400 |
| Shakira | 173,065,200 |
| Rihanna | 162,410,000 |
Top Movies
While IMDB reported Inside Out 2 as the biggest money-maker of 2024, our data shows that Deadpool & Wolverine topped the list of most-read-about movies this year, generating over 563 million pageviews. Movie fans of all types flocked to see Deadpool & Wolverine for its action-packed sequences, irreverent humor, and countless cameos that paid homage to the wider superhero universe. This film revitalized the genre by embracing the chaos and self-awareness that defined its characters, something that many have claimed the superhero movie industry has been lacking in recent years.
In addition, in an era of increasingly formulaic superhero films, Deadpool & Wolverine stood out by offering a fresh, irreverent take that not only entertained but also sparked widespread discussion on social media. Compared to other big releases this year, Deadpool & Wolverine’s ability to generate excitement and engage fans in a meaningful way demonstrates how even within an established genre, there’s still room for innovation.
Top Movies by Pageviews:
| Movies | Total Pageviews |
| Deadpool & Wolverine | 563,049,200 |
| Dune: Part Two | 249,305,400 |
| Joker: Folie à Deux | 162,696,800 |
| Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Hashira Training | 69,504,800 |
| Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire | 63,998,200 |
| Gladiator II | 57,501,800 |
| Challengers | 55,929,200 |
| Tarot | 51,381,800 |
| Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga | 47,555,800 |
| Bob Marley: One Love | 38,765,000 |
Top Health Trends
After sifting through what’s trending the most in health this year worldwide, sleep has come up as the most-read-about global health trend in 2024, racking up over 1 billion pageviews. While this is #1 on our list, it’s worth noting that 50% of the top trends are exclusive to women, highlighting the current state of health interest.
According to research from McKinsey, sleep is consistently the second highest health and wellness priority among consumers—and also the area where consumers feel like they have the most unfulfilled needs. With the rise of wearable technology, global interest in science-backed podcasts like those led by Andrew Huberman, and health studies focused on sleep—including an October 2023 study published by The Lancet, which pushed for a global call to action on sleep health—the importance of sleep and its connection to all aspects of health has become top-of-mind.
Top Health Trends by Pageviews:
| Health Trends | Total Pageviews |
| Sleep | 1,136,293,600 |
| Women’s Health | 193,752,000 |
| Ozempic | 49,453,400 |
| Pregnancy Products | 30,945,000 |
| Menopause | 12,768,800 |
| Sexual Health | 10,738,200 |
| Fertility | 4,182,400 |
| Wearables | 2,375,000 |
| Gut Health | 1,929,400 |
| Period Products | 1,872,200 |
As the new year quickly approaches, these stories are likely to remain of great interest to readers across the country, as evidenced by Taboola’s data. In addition to covering fresh stories in 2024, publishers should consider revisiting these topics when planning their content for the year ahead.