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In 2002, Buffy the Vampire Slayer became the first U.S. TV show to use “Google” as a verb. In the episode “Help” from the show’s seventh season, Willow asks Buffy, “Have you Googled her yet?” The humorous exchange that follows highlights how unfamiliar the term was at the time, with Willow explaining to Xander that Google was a search engine—a clarification no longer needed today.
This moment marked a cultural milestone as Google began transitioning from a brand name to a commonly used verb. However, this phenomenon, known as genericization, can pose risks for companies, as it may lead to a loss of trademark protection. Google, aware of this risk, published a blog in 2006 urging people to use the term specifically for their services. Despite its widespread usage as a verb, Google has successfully retained its trademark status.
This pop culture reference reflects both the growing influence of technology and the ways language evolves with it.