Google's Zeitgeist 2012 top search list is a great way to spot emerging trends. It's a comprehensive list of what's on the world's mind. Google studied an aggregation of over 1 trillion searches that people typed into Google Search. The below are the 10 queries with the largest volume for 2012.
What a year! Cheers to your Happy New Year!
The World's Top 10 Google Searches of 2012
1) Whitney Houston
No matter your generation, the loss of great talent grabs people's attention. Many younger generations heard the news of Whitney's passing on social networks but went to Google to confirm the news.
2) Gangnam Style
2011's #1 Google search was also a YouTube pop star sensation: Rebecca Black. Being the most viewed YouTube video in history, I thinks it's safe to say folks have enjoyed PSY's Gangnam Style tune much better. PSY's humorous and off-beat music video definitely resonates with the YouTube Generation (aka Millennials). Did you know…it's estimated that PSY will make $7.9 million from this song! Not bad for a simple YouTube upload.
3) Hurricane Sandy
Tragedies have a way of uniting people across borders and generations. Many searched to gain a perspective of the magnitude of the storm in order to prepare. Others searched to witness the aftermath. And many searched to figure out how they could help with the rebuild.
4) iPad 3
The 2011 top searches included 3 Apple themed searches: #6 was the iPhone 5, #9 was Steve Jobs and #10 was the iPad 2. Millennials are on a constant hunt for the next app or device that will allow them to search, tweet, snap or blog better.
5) Diablo 3
Diablo III is an action role-playing video game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. Diablo III set a new record for fastest-selling PC game by selling over 3.5 million copies in the first 24 hours of its release. Gaming is creeping more and more into our daily lives and since the Millennials grew up with gaming it's no wonder a game appears in the top 10.
6) Kate Middleton
Google lit up once people heard of potential Duchess' topless photos. And the search engine has stayed hot with the news of the royal pregnancy. Not sure what else to say about this one…except be on guard because you never know how you'll be exposed now that everyone is armed with videoing, photo snapping, insta-internet-uploading devices called smartphones.
7) Olympics 2012
Teaming across cultures and embracing diversity is a value of the Millennials so it's no surprise that they engaged with this year's global competition.
8) Amanda Todd
Amanda Todd was credited with starting the viral video trend of using a series of flash cards to express yourself. Amanda used the flash cards to tell of her experience of being blackmailed, bullied and physically assaulted. She posted the video prior to taking her own life on October 10, 2012 at her home in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. This story resonated with young Millennials as many have experienced similar cyber-bullying growing up in the digital age.
9) Michael Clarke Duncan
This American actor was best know for his role as John Coffey in The Green Mile. He passed away a few months after having a heart attack earlier this year. Young and unexpected deaths catch the attention of every generation. Ryan Dunn's tragic death took the #3 spot on Google's 2011 search list.
10) BBB12
Millennials love them some reality shows so certainly there had to be a reality show that made the world's top 10 list. Big Brother Brazil 12 is a Brazil-based reality TV show. I had no idea this whispering, back-stabbing reality show aired outside of the U.S.
Take this list to your New Year party or dinner and ask your friends to guess the top searches of 2012. Makes for some solid convo.
Question: What did you search for the most in 2012?
