News from Google

Google reveals hottest trends of 2009

London, 30 Nov 2009 – Google today released its annual “Zeitgeist” lists, which reveal the UK’s most searched terms of 2009, along with a look back at the hottest topics of the “noughties”, as seen through Google searches across the country.

The 2009 lists show that Britons were particularly interested in celebrities, bargains, and swine flu this year. Facebook, eBay and Spotify all featured in the year’s fastest rising searches. Meanwhile, the recession ensured that bargain hunting was alive and well in the UK, with people searching for cheap holiday options in particular.

“Britons had mixed feelings as they headed online this year to search for their favourite online tools, to learn about celebrities new and old, and to find a good bargain,” said Google spokesperson Anthony House. “People searched about new sensations like Lady Gaga and Susan Boyle, but they also turned to the web to learn about the deaths of Stephen Gately, Jade Goody, and Michael Jackson.”

Anyone can explore search patterns in more detail at www.google.com/insights/search

A look back at the noughties (the hottest topic for each year):

2001: nostradamus
2002: spiderman
2003: prince charles
2004: big brother
2005: james blunt
2006: steve irwin
2007: iphone
2008: iplayer
2009: stephen gately