Senzo Meyiwa, Oscar Pistorius and Ebola were were the search queries topping Google’s Trending Searches of 2014.
Google’s 14th Annual Year in Search takes a look at 2014 through the collective eyes of the world on the web, offering a unique perspective on the year’s major events and hottest trends based on searches conducted in South Africa.
Michelle Atagana, head of communications for Google South Africa, says: “Every day, around the world and across South Africa, we search. We want to find out more about people who are making an impact on the world, to learn about events that are making headlines, or just to settle a dinner table dispute between friends. In our annual Year-End Zeitgeist, we reflect on the people, places, and moments that captured the world’s attention throughout the year.”
This year’s trending searches unsurprisingly show interest in some of the big names in South Africa, with Senzo Meyiwa coming in first with his sudden and untimely death. Oscar Pistorius once again made the top 10 list with the controversial end to his court case and politics featured heavily in the South African search results with both Julius Malema and Jacob Zuma making the Top Trending Politicians list.
The Ebola outbreak had South Africans running to Google symptoms, and the ALS Ice Bucket challenge raised awareness of the little known disease effectively. The Nkandla Report, missing flight MH370 and the Islamic Group ISIS also made it onto the top trending lists – showing a deepening need for knowlesge around current affairs.
Here’s a look at just a few of Google’s top 10 trending search lists of 2014, as searched for by South Africans
South Africa Trending: Overall Searches
- Senzo Meyiwa
- Ebola
- Robin Williams
- Oscar Pistorius
- World Cup 2014
- Kelly Khumalo
- IEC
- Big Brother Mzansi
- Joan Rivers
- Michael Shumacher
South Africa Top Trending: People
- Senzo Meyiwa
- Robin Williams
- Oscar Pistorius
- Kelly Khumalo
- Joan Rivers
- Michael Shumacher
- Eddie Zondi
- Maya Angelou
- Lesego Motsepe
- Jennifer Lawrence
South Africa Top Trending: South African People
- Senzo Meyiwa
- Oscar Pistorius
- Kelly Khumalo
- Eddie Zondi
- Lesego Motsepe
- Boity Thulo
- Michelle Burger
- Gerrie Nel
- Cassper Nyovest
- Barry Roux
South Africa Trending: Music Artists
- Nicki Minaj
- Will Smith
- Iggy Azalea
- August Alsina
- Solange Knowles
- Cassper Nyovest
- Sam Smith
- Lorde
- Chris Brown
- Miley Cyrus
South Africa Trending: Politicians
- Julius Malema
- Jacob Zuma
- Musi Maimane
- Lindiwe Mazibuko
- Kgalema Motlanthe
- Nhlanhla Nene
- Lindiwe Zulu
- Thandi Modise
- Pallo Jordan
- Tim Harris
South Africa Trending: Current Affairs
- Oscar Pistorius Trail
- Ebola outbreak
- South Africa National General Elections
- MH370 plane disappearance
- AMCU Strike
- ISIS (Islamic State insurgency in Iraq/Syria)
- NUMSA Strike
- Ukraine Crisis
- Nkandla Report
- 2013 Matric Results
South Africa Trending: How to …
- How to rock
- How to bath
- How to whatsapp
- How to smoke
- How to longboard
- How to model
- How to pout
- How to behave
- How to convert
- How to contour
South Africa Trending: What is …
- What is ebola?
- What is ALS?
- What is nyoso?
- What is asphyxia?
- What is corruption?
- What is fraud?
- What is ISIS?
- What is bigamy?
- What is neknomination?
- What is trading?
