Internet

Google’s most searched terms revealed

Gareth Vorster

 ·12 Dec 2012

Search giant Google has announced its annual Zeitgeist, a list of top searches by South Africans in 2012.

Topping the list for overall trending South African searches in 2012 is free classifieds site, OLX.

In terms of tech trends, the iPad 3 captured South Africa’s imagination, coming in 10th overall, and snatching first place on the top gadgets list.

Entertainer Whitney Houston (who passed away in February), claims second place on the South African list, while Hurricane Sandy, which devastated portions of the US, the Caribbean and the Mid-Atlantic in October came in third.

Houston was also ranked first on the list of overall trending people in SA, followed closely by international athletics star, Caster Semenya and newsmaking social celebrity, Khanyi Mbau.

The Gangnam style dance, which also became the most watched video on YouTube, ranked fourth in the overall trending searches. In fifth place was the 2012 Olympics, which also topped the trending events list.

South Africans kept it local with searches for short-lived airline, Velvet Sky, coming in at sixth place. Caster Semenya won a different kind of (online) medal by coming in as the fastest trending sportsperson of the year, followed closely by swimming Olympic gold medalist, Chad le Clos.

Lists:

South Africa overall trending searches

• OLX
• Whitney Houston
• Hurricane Sandy
• Gangnam Style
• Olympics
• Velvet Sky
• Caster Semenya
• Diablo 3
• Khanyi Mbau
• iPad 3

South Africa overall trending: Gadgets  & phones

• ipad 3
• Samsung galaxy s3
• Samsung galaxy s2
• ipad mini
• Nokia n9
• iphone 4s
• Nokia lumia
• Blackberry 9360
• Galaxy s3
• Blackberry 9320

South Africa overall most searched: News sites

• News24
• Beeld
• Sowetan
• Iol
• Die burger
• Daily Mail
• Soccer laduma
• Volksblad
• Mail and Guardian
• City press

South Africa overall trending e-commerce/classifieds

• OLX
• Gumtree
• Zando
• Groupon
• Takealot

South Africa most popular: SA Banks

• FNB
• ABSA
• Standard Bank
• Nedbank
• Capitec

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