Most-searched terms on Yahoo.com
Stefanie Berliant
Media Coordinator
With 2008 winding down, Yahoo! announced the most popular searches, themes, and trends for the past year. As people strive to understand the world they live in, their searches reveal which news events, personalities and issues made an impact in 2008. This report is a great reflection of what captivated people’s attention and fueled passions in 2008. The economy, politicians, news stories, Olympians, rising celebrities, influential women, and notable deaths are the topics which Yahoo! categorizes the billions of searches around the world.
Some of the results may or may not surprise you (see the full lists at the link below). For example, Britney Spears was the most popular search term and person for the seventh time in the past eight years. This year in particular, we have seen her comeback and revive her career after a mental breakdown. Additionally the world can’t get enough of Angelina Jolie who continues to create a buzz with her movies, growing family, and humanitarian work. This year was a success for Disney including protégés such as Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Hudgens, the Jonas Brothers and Zac Efron.
As new starts rose, others were lost. 2008 began with the unexpected death of actor Heath Ledger along with the loss of other influential figures such as Tim Russert and Paul Newman.
This year’s Olympic games were continually clouded with controversies and opposition. Many people throughout the world protested China hosting the games as human rights issues still plague the nation. Controversy surrounding the age of the Chinese women’s gymnastics team was also a hot topic. However amidst the scandals, individuals shined through, as Michael Phelps and Shawn Johnson were among the top searched athletes.
The U.S. election was a main topic not only for U.S. citizens, but also for the rest of the world. Barack Obama became the first African American president and Sarah Palin was the first female to be nominated for Vice President for the Republican Party. The interest in the presidential race led to an increase in popularity for many other women including Tina Fey, Michelle Obama and Katie Couric.
The U.S. economy was a roller coaster ride in 2008 which affected the rest of the world as well. From stimulus checks to gas prices, to foreclosures and the stock market, people wanted to learn more about these issues which directly affected them. Countries throughout the world were also affected by natural disasters. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continued to be a focal point for many nations. Human interest stories such as Caylee Anthony, a missing Florida toddler and the pregnant man who gave birth also caught the attention of the world.
2008 has been an exciting year with its fair share of ups and downs. May 2009 bring prosperity and goodwill to the world.
Top 10 Overall Searches
1. Britney Spears
2. WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment)
3. Barack Obama
4. Miley Cyrus
5. RuneScape
6. Jessica Alba
7. Naruto
8. Lindsay Lohan
9. Angelina Jolie
10. American Idol
