Google Taps Zeitgeist, Finds Palin a Winner

Alaska governor went zooming up search charts in '08
By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 11, 2008 1:34 PM CST
Google Taps Zeitgeist, Finds Palin a Winner
China's gymnast gold medal winner He Kexin, left, and China's bronze medalist Yang Yilin are shown during the medal ceremony for the uneven bars.   (AP Photo)

Every year, Google releases its analysis of the global zeitgeist based on billions of searches around the world. Newsweek reports the highlights:

  • Sarah Palin: "Obama" was the most searched for term overall, but the Alaska governor grabbed the top spot on the fastest-rising list.
  • Beijing 2008: The world was understandably electrified by the spectacle of the Olympics in China.

  • Facebook login: #3 on the fastest-rising list; apparently, the world really wants to log in to Facebook.
  • Tuenti, Nasza Klasa, and Wer Kennt Wen: Social-networking sites from Spain, Poland, and Germany gained on the global leader.
  • Heath Ledger: News of the actor's untimely death sent searches for his name skyrocketing in 2008.
  • The Jonas Brothers: 10th on the fastest-rising list, but hey, if only tweens used Google ...
For a complete list, and other analysis, click the links below.
(More Google Zeitgeist stories.)

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