Apr 28th, 2019, 06:29 PM

Search "Thanos" on Google For a Surprise

By Samira Safarzadeh
Thanos, the villainous wearer of the gauntlet. Image Credit: Disney
Google introduces a new feature for Avengers: Endgame.

Wiping out half of the galaxy? How about wiping out half of your Google search results? Following up the release of Avengers: Endgame, which shattered opening weekend box office records with its $1.22 billion global debut, Google has come up with a rather fun "Easter egg." Easter eggs are hidden features or messages, inside jokes, or cultural references hidden within movies or media. Whether you've seen the popular film or not, this guarantees a little fun. 

Marvel is a huge contributor to the cultural landscape, and Avengers: Endgame is no exception. The prosperity of Marvel's box office has shaped the way we watch movies and has inspired how comic books are written today. The recent release of the behemoth has even the world's most used search engine wanting to get in on the conversation. The news of this new Thanos trick has been spreading around the internet like wildfire, but if you still have not heard about it, here is how you can join in on the fun (No spoilers, I promise).

All you have to do is go to Google and search for "Thanos." You will see a picture of his Infinity Gauntlet, just make sure you have your volume on before clicking on it. 

Check out the Gauntlet on the right side. Image Credit: Samira Safarzadeh

The gauntlet will snap its fingers and disintegrate half the search results, just like the supervillain disintegrates people. If you want your page to go back to normal, either refresh it or click on the gauntlet again. More than just a cool feature, according to Vox, the Infinity Gauntlet erases most of the top-trending results that concern any of Avengers: Endgame’s spoilers.

It's a fun, lighthearted trick, and certainly not as heart-wrenching as in the movie, thank God. Although it's a special treat for fans, the Easter egg has proved to be a rather important one. After the release of the movie, spoilers and leaks of the movie's plot have been upsetting Marvel devotees worldwide. Following the release of the movie, a man in Hong Kong was reportedly attacked for yelling out major spoilers to a group of fans waiting in line to see the movie. It has become such a problem that Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo have begged people not to spoil the film’s ending.  

Although the Easter egg is entertaining, it also brings attention to the way that we watch movies and television today. Because of the internet, it has become hard to avoid discussions around the specifics of films, especially those that are as relevant in pop-culture as Marvel movies. It seems like Google took the Endgame directors plea to heart when they said, “Because so many of you have invested your time, your hearts, and your souls into these stories, we’re once again asking for your help," to help fans creatively avoid spoilers. It is unclear how long this feature will be around, so make sure to try it out while you still can.