SA’s Top Google Searches and Moving Video Tribute to World’s Searches

Popular search engine Google has revealed the most popular searches by South Africans during 2016 from ‘what is a blesser’ to ‘how to lose belly fat’. Some are obvious. Some not so! Here are the lists… and then scroll down to watch a moving video Google has compiled of the events which drew the most searches around the globe this year.

South Africa’s top ‘How to’ Searches

1. How to download Pokemon Go
2. How to build a strong business relationship
3. How to lose belly fat
4. How to heat up cosmetic oil for production
5. How to remove bookmarks
6. How to make slime
7. How to tie a doek
8. How to deal with poor confidence
9. How to cope with being alone
10. How to prepare battered jackfruit

Top Overall Searches in South Africa:

1. Pokémon Go
2. Euro 2016
3. Olympic Games Rio 2016
4. Donald Trump
5. Election Results
6. Mandoza
7. IEC
8. Mall of Africa
9. Caster Semenya
10. US Elections 2016

South Africa’s top What is… Searches

1. What is Pokemon Go?
2. What is Java?
3. What is globalisation?
4. What is a blesser?
5. What is Brexit?
6. What is the weather today?
7. What is meant by restorative justice?
8. What is research?
9. What is a dependent variable?
10. What is biome?

South Africa’s ‘Break Out’ Searches:

These refer to search terms that grew by more than 5,000%.

1. Beyoncé (mainly being searched in Kempton Park, Gauteng… and it’s the same for all except #5)
2. Dreadlocks (its peak week was in early April)
3. Frank Ocean (after his August release of ‘Blonde’, South Africa was the top country doing this search)
4. Powerball
5. Trap music (mainly being asked in Krugersdorp)

South African Politicians and Prominent figures

1. Jacob Zuma
2. Public Protector
3. Gupta family
4. Thoko Didiza
5. Mcebo Dlamini
6. Pravin Gordhan
7. Sipho Pityana
8. Brian Molefe
9. Thuli Madonsela
10. Khwesi

South African TV Shows

1. Cash Gang
2. Uzalo
3. Muvhango
4. Isibaya
5. Idols SA
6. Beintehaa
7. Bigg Boss 9
8. Skeem Saam
9. The Voice South Africa
10. Antara Nur Dan Dia

Top searches for South African Celebrities

1. Mandoza
2. Gugu Zulu
3. Emtee
4. Babes Wodumo
5. Gareth Cliff
6. Nasty C
7. Rapulana Seiphemo
8. Nyembezi Kunene
9. Ayanda Mabulu
10. Duke Soul

Top Global Overall Searches on Google

1. Pokémon Go
2. iPhone 7
3. Donald Trump
4. Prince
5. Powerball
6. David Bowie
7. Deadpool
8. Olympics
9. Slither.io
10. Suicide Squad

Watch Google’s Video Tribute to a Year in Search 2016