Laughter, Purring, and Clock Ticking: The Most Popular Sounds Online

They are sought to fall asleep, relax, or meditate.

The Forbes Health editorial team shared insights about the sounds that are most frequently searched online. To gather this information, the authors conducted a study based on a survey of 2,000 volunteers from the U.S. and reports from search engine queries, social media, and app stores. After analyzing the data, Judy Ho, a neuropsychologist from California who collaborates with Forbes, commented on the results.

Here is what the list of the most popular sounds looks like:

Interestingly, "human" sounds (those made by people or created by human-made objects) are far less popular than natural sounds: the sound of clapping is searched for an average of 206,000 times a month, while the sound of rain is searched over 3 million times.

It is noted that younger people are more likely to search for various sounds online. Among those surveyed, 63% of individuals aged 18-25 indicated that they are very likely to search for background sounds online, while for those aged 58-76, this figure is only 38%. Among people aged 77 and older, only 34% are willing to search for sounds of crickets and purring kittens online.

The most popular reasons for listening to such sounds, according to respondents, are help with sleep (53%), relaxation (42%), and meditation (31%). Interestingly, 29% of respondents search for sounds that evoke feelings of nostalgia. Judy Ho notes that nostalgic sounds help recall simpler and happier times, reminding people of activities and hobbies that once brought joy. This is an effective method for combating stress.

What sounds do you usually listen to - and why do you do it? Share in the comments!