Let’s Google: inquiring minds want to know
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ve no doubt run into this disclaimer, “I am not an expert, but I Googled it.” I’m a big fan of Googling. I can’t help myself. After all, if it’s on the internet, it must be true, right? And even if it’s not true, it’s likely to be entertaining.
I recently read a blog post by Ellen Hawley at Notes from the U.K. wherein she responded to some humorous search engine queries related to Britain. It got me wondering about what we’re Googling here in the U.S. and in my home state of Utah. Here are the statistics I found. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions about what they mean.
Top Google searches in the U.S. during 2018
I was a little surprised to learn that the top searches in the United States were also the top global searches. More evidence that we share more similarities than differences.
- World Cup
- Hurricane Florence
- Mac Miller
Top “What is” Google searches in the U.S. during 2018
If you narrow the searches down to people wanting to expand their vocabulary, you get an interesting combination.
- What is Bitcoin?
- What is racketeering?
- What is DACA?
Top “How to” Google searches in the U.S. during 2018
Or maybe you’re curious about how people are expanding their skill sets. In light of today’s political climate, this makes perfect sense. Be sure to vote, but have a back-up plan, just in case.
- How to vote
- How to register to vote
- How to play Mega Millions
Top Google searches by state during 2017
The most recent breakdown by state I could find was 2017. The results covered the gamut—from one extreme to the other. Washington’s most popular search phrase? Unicorn Frappuccino. Maine’s was Transgender Rights. Here in Utah, it appears we’re all searching for Wonder Woman. Perhaps we’re not so far apart after all.
Top “Should I” Google searches by state during 2018
This got interesting. Perhaps Google is today’s version of the Magic 8 ball. The most popular “Should I” queries in each state ranged from the trivial (Should I cut my hair? Should I text him? Should I nap?) to the life-changing (Should I have a baby? Should I go to college? Should I buy a house?). The most common was “Should I vote?” (six states). The most concerning was “Should I care?” (five states). And for me the most intriguing was “Should I apologize?” (Texas). In Utah, the most Googled “Should I” question was “Should I move?” Better get out the Magic 8 ball!
What does Google want me to ask?
Of course, Google’s predictive text may nudge us to ask certain questions. I decided to give it a try. I typed in “Why is” and hit enter.
- Why is -1 x -1 =1?
- Why is the sky blue?
- Why is a minute divided into 60 seconds, an hour into 60 minutes, yet there are only 24 hours in a day?
Google wasn’t wrong. I do want to know those things!
Which Google queries led to So What? Now What?
Shockingly, Google does not see me as an authority. (What?!? I beg to differ.) What that means is my site doesn’t come up in a lot of Google searches. Still, some hardy souls do find their way here through a search query. In the last 12 months, my site came up most frequently when users typed in “hiking is good for the soul.” I got the most clicks from “why hiking is good for the soul.” If my words of wisdom on that topic helped even one soul get out on a hike, the world is now a better place. You’re welcome Google.
Your turn
- What did you last Google?
- Or do you use another search engine? If so, which one?
- Look up the most popular query in your state or country and tell us what it was?
- What else is on your mind today?
Follow my blog with Bloglovin.
Shared on the GRAND Social and #MLSTL.
A small and unscientific survey tells me that I get the most queries from people trying to find out why British lawyers (or judges) wear wigs, from people confused about what the great in Great Britain means, and from people who want to compare the beer to American beer. The world is a very strange placd. The last thing I googled was Father Divine, looking for a short bio.
Hmm…now I’m curious about all of those things. Guess I better Google them. The world is a strange place indeed. Enjoy it!
I can’t get through a dinner party without googling something. Most frequently tho, when watching tv or movies, I have to google where else I’ve seen the actor….#MLSTL
So it’s not just us! My husband and I are always Googling actors that seem familiar, but we can’t figure out from what.
I’ll admit the last thing I looked up on google was Mac Miller. I had no idea. Before that I googled restaurants in our area to make suggestions for our girls dinner this weekend. ?
Very good use of Google, Cindy! Looking forward to dinner. XOXO
My latest googles have been to find dance lesson videos. I love that people take the time to post videos that help others through the steps. I remember googling “what is bitcoin” a long time ago… after reading a lot of articles, I still have no idea what they are and how it works.
I can’t make much sense out of bitcoin either, Janis. Are you learning to dance? That response intrigued me.
I’ve been dancing for years (jitterbug, west coast swing, ball room, cha cha, etc.). My husband and I have been working on some new styles.
That’s great! It sounds like so much fun and a good way to keep mind and body active at the same time.
I stopped using Google about two years ago. lol I Bing now. I am sure my little tantrum is doing nothing to change the folks who work for Google but it makes me feel good to say I don’t use it. My last Bing query was the spelling of one of my husbands drugs and the side effects.
I sometimes use Bing, but since Google is the default search engine on my computer, I usually just use that. Wishing you and your husband well.
Interesting stats, Christie! My latest google was a movie. I thought it was a comedy, and google let me know it was drama #MLSTL
That’s good information to have. What did we do before the internet? We had to call the theater or look it up in the newspaper, and that information was somewhat limited.
I was shocked by some of the results! Who knew World Cup would be #1?
In Oregon, I guess we’re all about Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ breast cancer.
My latest Google was a technical thing about my blog, I am sure!
We have that in common, Theresa. I was just Googling about an issue I was having with Cloudflare and Facebook. And guess what? I found the answer and fixed it myself. Score!
Yep I Google, Christie! My husband and I will be watching TV and if something comes that we don’t know I google it. I even google the actors (now that is sad). Thanks for sharing the stats as well and no, I don’t think my blog is a fan of Google as it doesn’t come up very often in searches either! Thanks for sharing at #MLSTL and have a great week. Sharing xx
I confess to Googling actors too, especially if they look familiar, but I can’t place them, or if we are watching older shows, I might Google to see what they are doing (or even what they look like) today.
I LOVE Google with a passion (and Wiki too). Whenever I don’t know something the first thing I do is Google it. My last big blog change (swapping to Mailchimp for my emails) was done with a large dollop of Google help. I use it for recipes, for checking what other films an actor was in, for news, for weird facts, and for so much more. Then I end up on Wiki for something and can waste so much time clicking from link to link!
Thanks for linking up to #MLSTL and I’ve shared this on my SM 🙂
Me too Leanne–on all of those things. Recently my granddaughter and I Googled ourselves and our family members to see what would come up.
I like to use it for help with how to do things, like change the clock in the car when daylight savings starts/ends!! Very interesting searches Christie 🙂 . #mlstl
Yes, Debbie. I find there is instruction on just about anything if you figure out how to ask the question just right. I was surprised by some of the top searches. None of them were anything I’ve personally Googled. I’ve always suspected I was a little different. 🙂
I use Google all the time, for everything. It always seems to have the answers for me, and I am amazed at some of the predictive finishes to my queries! It was great fun reading your stats and other tidbits about what people search for. Thanks! #MLSTL
The predictive questions can take you on a very interesting journey. I wonder how Google’s algorithm decides what you might want to ask and how much it varies from person to person.
Oh my gosh, I love this post!! Have you seen the image of a man wearing a white t-shirt and the shirt says: “I don’t need Google, my wife knows everything!” Ok, I looked up AL and we Googled the most for eclipse glasses WalMart / Della Reese / Roy Moore allegations / Niger soldiers killed. Our top should I was for take vitamins. I do use Google but have you heard of the search engine DuckDuckGo? It’s supposed to not collect or store any personal info. Shared x 3 ♥
I have not seen that image, Dee, but I love it! Neither have I heard of DuckDuckGo, but I just checked it out. I typed in a random question and compared results to Google. There were minor differences in order, but most of the same results came up in both. Interesting.
Hi Christie,
What?? Of course you are an expert – regardless of what Google thinks!!!
We are big googlers in this house, too. But we have enough inbred skepticism to take each response with a grain of salt.
Still, you CAN learn a lot from the internet. Just filter carefully.
Thank you, Nancy. That’s what I thought too. 🙂 I have learned to look closely at the source of any information I find through Google.
I love Google, but there are plusses and minuses. When my son was in middle school, he used to type his math problems into Google, or read them to Siri, when he was doing his homework!
Oh boy! I hadn’t even thought of that. I have considered the increased opportunity for plagiarism in school papers, but it’s also easier than ever for teachers to check for plagiarism.
I have never thought to Google “should I”… would someone really ask an innate search engine the answer to that question? Oh dear. My last google searches were looking for a meme on a phrase I was thinking of using in a blog and looking for information on a class someone mentioned to me . So, have you googled your own name to see that comes up? I’ve been told that is kinda interesting (no I have not done it).
Yes, Pat, I have Googled my name. There is a LCSW with the same name that comes up ahead of me, but after that, it’s my blog, my Facebook, and then mylife.com. I just watched a news story about the unethical practices of, and false information provided by, mylife.com. As far as images, it’s mostly photos from my blog and the aforementioned LCSW. The results are probably skewed by my browsing history. It would be interesting to have someone else Google my name and see what comes up.
My saying is, “Why wonder? Just Google.” I Google everything: directions, actors, restaurants, people, weird science questions, synonyms, definitions…the list goes on. Now I need to go Google Mac Miller.
Thanks for an interesting post!
I really don’t know how we survived before the internet and Google. 🙂
Hi Christie,
Back again and sharing from #MLSTL
Thank you Nancy. I always appreciate the shares.
Thank you Christie for linking up and co-hosting at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty 37! Shared x 3 ♥
Thank you Dee for keeping us going. Have a good weekend!
Oh great- now I am going to have to Google Mac Miller. Who?????
I Google every single day. I especially like to Google things I have seen on TV. I’ve been watching the PBS Victoria series and every time I watch I have to Google something and then down the rabbit hole I go!
I didn’t know Mac Miller either. I don’t listen to a lot of rap, though there are a few songs I like. It seems quite a few of us Google while we watch TV. You are in good company.
What a fun post you have done here, Christie. I googled your name from this part of the world. There you were in the Google images, right in the middle of other Christies. You then got most of the first two pages to yourself before other stuff got a look in.
I love Mr. Google and I hate everything he knows about me. I Google everything, I check spelling and word meanings, how to do stuff. My latest Google today was how to make fermented vegetables, I just finished making three jars LOL.
Australia’s most popular searches are regarding sport and politics, got an election this month.
We will have to feature this post so that more can have some fun with it.
Kathleen
Blogger’s Pit Stop.
Thanks Kathleen. It was fun to hear what came up when you Googled my name. Like you, I have a love/hate relationship with Mr. Google, but I do rely on him a lot. Thanks for the feature!
What a fabulous post Christie (I’ll pin it). Visiting you at Blogging Grandmothers Link Party. Have a beautiful weekend. Warm regards, Nancy Andres
Hello Nancy! I’m glad you enjoyed it. #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty is a great place to find all sorts of posts, isn’t it?