The subject disclosure relates systems and methods for returning accurate and relevant search results in an online platform. In some aspects, a process of the disclosed technology can include steps for displaying a first set of search results, the first set of search results including a first plurality of media content items arranged in an order of descending relevance based on search frequency, receiving a first character input from a user of a user device, the first character input defining a first character in a search query, and updating the first set of search results to a second set of search results based on the first character input, the second set of search results comprising at least one media content item not included in the first set of search results that is available for consumption by the user. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.