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):
Top searches 2009
What was hot this year (fastest rising search queries in 2009)
The biggest stories (fastest rising news searches in 2009)
Bargain hunting (top cheap searches in 2009)
How is Britain feeling? (top searches for “i feel…” in 2009)
The hottest tickets (fastest rising ticket searches in 2009)
Contact: press-uk@google.com or 0207 031 3130
Labels: English (UK), UK news announcements
