Searching saviours, sinners and DJ Sbu

The annual Google Zeitgeist (its list of most popular searches) gives an interesting insight on what was top of mind world-wide during 2008. Here is a list of SA’s top searches.

Most Popular
1. facebook
2. cape times
3. games
4. map
5. yahoo
6. news
7. jobs
8. google
9. gmail
10. pictures

The Cape Times is the most popularly searched for newspaper in SA. Genuine surprise. What kinda pictures?

Fastest Rising
1. gumtree
2. facebook
3. lotto
4. eskom
5. you tube
6. beeld
7. news 24
8. yahoo mail
9. chuck norris
10. beijing olympics

The Vernon Koekemoer/Chuck Norris interplay created some funny ads, massive over-exposure for Vernon, and an entry for Chuck on SA’s fastest rising searches. I suspect most people searched for Chuck Norris jokes in the hopes of adding in Vernon’s name and then seeming funny and original.

Top Newsworthy
1. load shedding
2. fifa 2010 world cup
3. beijing olympics
4. barack obama
5. global warming
6. euro 2008
7. xenophobia
8. adt (home and office security service)
9. zimbabwe election
10. cope (congress of the people political party)

We searched for load shedding schedules, security (ADT is the only local brand name that features in the newsworthy searches), and hope for change in Barack Obama and COPE.

Top Politicians
1. jacob zuma
2. thabo mbeki
3. trevor manuel
4. julius malema
5. kgalema motlanthe
6. helen zille
7. fikile mbalula
8. terror lekota
9. mbhazima shilowa
10. mongosuthu buthelezi

Julius Malema sought and found instant infamy.

Top Local Celebs
1. dj sbu
2. dj fresh
3. dj cleo
4. kelly khumalo
5. danny k
6. ryk neethling
7. khanyi mbau
8. connie ferguson
9. gareth cliff
10. loyiso bala

Diversity wins in our searches for SA top celebs.

What do you think the Zeitgeist says about South Africans?