Supplied Content
Auckland, December 10, 2021
Search can help you find a world of information – and the way people use Search can be a window into the world.
Here is a glimpse of the trending searches of 2021, a year we looked for ways to tie a tie, lose weight fast and solve a Rubik’s Cube. The highs and lows of the year had us keeping updated on locations of interest, looking into crypto and stock prices and taking our measure on the latest standings of the Olympics medal table.
Collectively we mourned losses, marvelled at the Met and spent a few afternoons getting the latest announcements from the Ministry of Health.
Here is a look at some of the themes from 2021
Comeback Queens and Kings
2021 was a year of reunions, redemptions and triumphant releases of the musical kind.
We were treated to a 90s throwback with our favourite Friends reuniting on the Central Perk couch. Tiger Woods defied odds to get back on the green and swinging; Adele graced the airwaves to teach us all about 30, and the world celebrated when Cleo Smith was returned to her family safe and sound.
We searched for banana bread, scones and carrot cake with almost as much vigour as 2020 – though this year we also had guacamole and playdough on the menu.
Crises, Covid-19 and remember that blocked Canal?
Natural disasters
Natural disasters captured our attention this year – both on our shores and farther afield. With earthquakes and tsunamis putting us on high alert, we were also shaken by news of the Kermadec Islands. Understandably we continued to seek more and more information about the pandemic, in a year where the vaccine, new variants and changing restrictions kept us on our toes. We sought answers about the crisis in Afghanistan. And remember that supply chain snafu in the Suez Canal?
Shocking absolutely no-one: Kiwis love sport!
Despite a global pandemic, Kiwis were spoiled with a number of suspenseful, powerful and history-making sporting events this year. As always we searched for games of cricket and all their stats, whether it is us, India, Australia or Pakistan on the pitch – we are not partial!
We spent days on the water with America’s Cup in Tamaki Makaurau’s harbour, Lisa Carrington and the other heroic paddlers in Tokyo, and of course Sophie Pascoe’s medal-winning triumph in the Paralympics.
Once the Olympics medal table was in the rear-view mirror, we celebrated Emma Radacanu’s title win. Because not only did our homegrown athletic heroes make us proud, but we had the NBA, Australian Open, NRL and Euros in the line-up!
Understanding oddities
Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. While the world battled Covid-19, we saw our own surge of RSV through the tail end of winter. We wondered when the next Blood Moon would be, and although it comes every year, we struggled to remember when daylight savings ends or even when to treat our loved ones on Valentine’s, Mother’s or Father’s Days.
When seeking a little escapism from our daily lives, our searches show we found entertainment in Squid Game, Sweet Tooth and Bridgerton all bringing new perspectives on reality to our small screens.
While we are discussing fact or fiction…what really is going on with Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian?
Every day, millions of people come to Google to ask questions.
