They reveal the good and the bad, but the bottom line is that Google searches are a tiny window into our global consciousness. In 2013, Google’s top global searches revealed our our joy, our pain, and our curiosity.
Here is a look into the top ten Google searches of the world for the year 2013
No. 10: North Korea
North Korean soldiers stand on Kim Il-Sung square during a military parade marking the 60th anniversary of the Korean war armistice in Pyongyang on July 27, 2013.
“North Korea” was Google’s No. 10 global trending search of 2013.
No. 9: PlayStation 4
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
2013 was a big year for game consoles, and it shows in global Google searches. “PlayStation 4” was Google’s No. 9 most searched term in 2013.
Reviews says the PlayStation 4 “serves up dazzling graphics, runs on a simplified and logical interface, and boasts a fantastic controller. It’s also $100 cheaper than rival Xbox One and has the upper hand on indie and day one digital-only offerings.”
No. 8: Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung’s Galaxy S4 has been called “The everything phone for (almost) everyone,” and in 2013 this phone made the biggest challenge yet to Apple’s iPhone.
No. 7: Royal baby
Let it be known that in 2013 the world still loves a classic fairy tale. Here, Britain’s Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, show their new son to the media outside St. Mary’s Hospital in London on July 23. Prince George — who weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces at birth — is third in line to the throne.
No. 6: Boston Marathon
Rita Jeptoo of Kenya crosses the finish line to win the women’s division of the 117th Boston Marathon on April 15 in Boston.
A short time later, bombs exploded near the finish line at the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon.
No. 5: Harlem Shake
People uploaded more than 1.7 million videos of viral dance craze the Harlem Shake to YouTube this year, propelling it to the No. 5 spot on Google’s global search list. It was also the second most trending video on YouTube.
No. 4: Cory Monteith
Actor Cory Monteith arrives at the premiere of “Glee: The 3D Concert Movie” on August 6, 2011, in Westwood, Calif. Monteith, who rose to fame on the hit Fox show “Glee,” was found dead inside his hotel room in Vancouver in July. It was reported that he died from a mix of heroin and alcohol.
No. 3: iPhone 5S
Apple’s hotly anticipated iPhone 5S was launched in September, and its popularity made it the No. 3 most widely searched term in 2013.
No. 2: Paul Walker
Paul Walker, star of the “Fast & Furious” movie series, died in a car crash north of Los Angeles on November 30.
The “Fast and Furious” franchise spawned six sequels, with “Fast & Furious 7” currently filming. It’s unclear whether Walker had completed his work on the film.
No. 1: Nelson Mandela
The No. 1 searched term for 2013 was Nelson Mandela, an international symbol of strength and peace.
Mandela died on December 5, and his death sparked both worldwide mourning and a celebration of his life’s achievements. Global search interest in the former president of South Africa was already high this year, and after he died, people from around the world turned to Google to learn more about Madiba and his legacy.
– CNET
