Google’s Zeitgeist has become something of an annual tradition as the Internet giant wraps up each year by giving us a glimpse into what the world’s been searching for using its search engine. Surprisingly (or not?), Apple’s iPhone 5s took the top three slots in global search trends (#5 in the U.S.), behind Nelson Mandela and Paul Walker.
Google’s review of 2013 searches also shows the iPhone 5s leading 2013 search trends in the Phones category, although it’s been edged out in the Gadgets category by Samsung’s Galaxy S4 and Sony’s PlayStation 4…
Looking only at the Phone category, the iPhone 5s easily dominated the list of top 2013 Google searches, followed by Samsung’s Galaxy S4, the iPhone 5c, HTC’s One, Google’s Nexus 5, BlackBerry 10, Galaxy S4, Moto X, LG G2 and Nokia’s Lumia 1020.
The Tech Gadgets category is ruled by the #1 PlayStation 4, followed by Samsung’s Galaxy S4, the iPhone 5s, the iPhone 5c, the iPad Air, the iPad mini, HTC’s One, Google’s $35 Chromecast dongle and the Nexus 5.
Google says that folks around the world uploaded more than an unbelievable 1.7 million video versions of the Harlem Shake to YouTube – can you believe that? Harlem Shake was YouTube’s second most-trending video in 2013 and #5 on the global list.
Another factoid: twerking topped this year’s ‘what is…’ list of search terms.
In our annual Year-End Zeitgeist (“spirit of the times”), we reflect on the people, places, and moments that captured the world’s attention throughout the year.
This year marks our most global Zeitgeist to date—with 1,000+ top 10 lists across categories like Trending People, Most-Searched Events and Top Trending Searches from 72 countries.
Check out the top 10 global trending Google searches of 2013:
- Nelson Mandela
- Paul Walker
- iPhone 5s
- Cory Monteith
- Harlem Shake
- Boston Marathon
- Royal Baby
- Samsung Galaxy s4
- PlayStation 4
- North Korea
Here’s Google’s Zeitgeist 2013 video.
That soundtrack?
Feels Like Coming Home by Jetta, available on iTunes.
Check out Google’s Zeitgeist homepage where you can take a look back at each year’s Zeitgeist from 2001 on and use an interactive 3D global map to get a better feel of this year’s top searches.
“You can easily spin the globe, select a city and explore the topics that brought people to search on any day of the year—from local sports games to international news stories,” adds Google.
Apple’s iPhone also topped Yahoo UK’s 2013 searches.