Google reveals South Africans’ search habits in 2022
Google released its annual ‘Year in Search’ results for 2022 on Wednesday.
For the second year in a row, the top trending search term in South Africa related to social grants as South Africans sought to find out more about the R350 SASSA Social Relief (SRD) grant.
Wordle, the online word game that captured the world’s attention, was the second most searched term, followed by climate change.
Other top trending searches were related to the war in Ukraine, load shedding, typhoid fever and monkeypox.
“The annual Year in Search results are a good example of Google’s commitment to organising the world’s information and making it universally accessible and useful, in action. This year’s results show that Google is a trusted source of information when South Africans are uncertain, sad, or looking for ways to learn more or entertain themselves,” says the company’s Dr Alistair Mokoena.
American rapper Jaden Smith topped the list of people searched for by South Africans, followed by his father Will Smith who was searched alongside Chris Rock following the slapping incident at the Oscars.
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard occupied third and fourth places after their protracted and public court case.
When it comes to TV shows and movies, Big Brother Mzansi was the most searched for in South Africa with the Addams Family adaptation, Wednesday, following in second place.
Black Panther 2 and Wakanda Forever both feature in the top 10 trending searches for TV shows and movies.
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