A claim circulating widely on social media platforms alleges that Google sends physical trophies or awards to users who are the first ever to search a specific phrase. The claim often appears alongside photos of glass trophies and supposed Google notifications, encouraging users to try searching obscure or absurd phrases themselves. Because the claim suggests a previously unknown Google reward system, it warrants verification. However, we found that this claim is false.
Social Media Posts
The claim gained traction through short-form videos and photo posts showing what appear to be official Google notifications congratulating users for being the “first” to search a phrase, followed by images of custom glass trophies labeled as “Google First Search Awards.”
Fact Check
Origin of the Hoax
The viral claim began as satirical performance art, not a genuine Google program. In September 2022, Justin posted an Instagram carousel featuring eight glass trophies, each supposedly awarded by Google for being the first to search bizarre phrases. That same day, he uploaded TikTok videos showing him unboxing these trophies, styled to look like authentic influencer rewards.
https://www.tiktok.com/@legbootlegit/video/7141423354858327338
In an interview with Business Insider, Justin revealed that the fake Google awards were part of a performance art project. He explained the technical process behind the hoax: using JavaScript and browser development tools to create a fake congratulatory notification that appeared to come from Google.
Google’s Official Statement
Google has directly addressed and denied the existence of such an award. In January 2023, Colette Garcia, Communications Manager for Google Search at Google, told Newsweek that the so-called “first search award” does not exist. She noted that Google sees a large volume of unique searches every day, stating, “This award does not currently exist. In fact, 15 percent of searches we see every day are new.”
As of 2026, Google has not announced any programs, promotions, or initiatives that involve rewarding users for unique or first-time searches.
Why the Claim Is Implausible
From a practical standpoint, the claim raises questions about how it would align with Google Search’s operations. Google processes billions of searches daily across the globe, with millions of them being unique queries. Verifying who searched a phrase “first,” notifying that user, and shipping a physical award would present significant logistical challenges at this scale.
Google’s public documentation and support forums make no reference to any feature that tracks or rewards first-time searches. Discussions on Google Help forums and social media describe the claim as a joke or hoax, with Google support representatives stating that no such reward system exists.
The claim continues to appear periodically on Instagram and TikTok, sometimes without reference to its satirical origin. When addressing these posts, fact-checkers and media outlets refer to Google’s 2023 statement, and note that the images and videos are from the 2022 hoax.
Broader Context: Data, Market Power, and Public Trust
While the trophy claim itself is false, it reflects broader public concerns about how Google handles search data and market power. In August 2024, a U.S. federal judge ruled that Google violated antitrust law by maintaining an illegal monopoly in online search, a decision that could lead to remedies such as changes in data access and contractual practices. In a subsequent phase of the case, the court ordered Google to stop certain exclusive search deals and share some of its data and infrastructure with competitors to open the market.
At the same time, Google has introduced new privacy technologies while evolving its broader data strategy. In November 2025, the company launched Private AI Compute, a platform designed to process AI queries in a way meant to keep user data private and inaccessible to anyone but the user. However, Google’s broader privacy ecosystem, including the winding down of earlier initiatives aimed at reducing third-party tracking like Privacy Sandbox, has drawn mixed reactions from regulators and privacy advocates.
These developments do not mean that Google tracks “first searches” for trophies, but they help explain why narratives about data handling and privacy often circulate online and why extraordinary claims about Google should be checked against official sources and reputable reporting.
Conclusion
The claim that Google sends physical trophies to users who perform the first search of a specific phrase is not supported by evidence. The viral posts originated from a 2022 satirical performance art project by social media creator Justin (@legbootlegit), who created the trophies and notifications using browser development tools.
Google has stated that no such award program exists. Given that Google processes billions of searches daily and there is no documented infrastructure or official program for tracking and rewarding first-time searches, the claim does not appear to be credible.
Title:Google Does Not Send Trophies for First-Time Searches
Fact Check By: Pranpreeya PResult: False
