Google has released a list of its most searched items in 2012, in the annual Zeitgeist report, which provides a year-end glimpse into what Americans were searching for most throughout the year.
Google defined trending searches as “the searches that had the highest amount of traffic over a sustained period of time in 2012 as compared to 2011.”
The top item comes as little surprise, as the February death of Whitney Houston triggered an explosion of searches surrounding her unexpected death, life and music. Houston’s family also likely caused a bit of the traffic, as Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina made quite a few headlines struggling to move on following her mother’s tragic death.
Houston beat out both Hurricane Sandy and Election 2012 in terms of searches, events that take the #2 and #3 spots respectively. Another celebrity death to make the list was that of actor Michael Clarke Duncan, who also passed away unexpected. The top 10 also includes dance craze Gangnam Style, blockbuster book and film The Hunger Games and Olympics 2012.
United States Trending Searches 2012
Whitney Houston
Hurricane Sandy
Election 2012
Hunger Games
Jeremy Lin
Olympics 2012
Amanda Todd
Gangnam Style
Michael Clarke Duncan
Kony 2012
In addition to this overall list, Google has also released information about most popular searches by category, including one for most searched songs in the United States. Justin Bieber grabbed the top spot with mega single “Boyfriend,” besting the equally ubiquitous “Gangnam Style” by PSY. Bieber grabbed another spot on the list with “As Long as You Love Me.” Also appearing on the most searched songs list is the viral “Call Me Maybe”, which spawned countless parodies. Kanye’s “Mercy” rounds out the list at #10.
