This past year has been a year of new knowledge, growth and a whole lot of spare time for many people as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down much of society and the Black Lives Matter movement inspired self-reflection.
Christina Peck, Google Canada trends expert, said the year has been an unusual one when viewed through a search engine lens, too.
B次元官网网址�2020 was not the year any of us expected,B次元官网网址� Peck told Black Press Media by phone. B次元官网网址淚t was unpredictable, heavy and really tested people around the world, and Canadians.B次元官网网址�
Google compiles top trending searches every year and in this way, 2020 is no different. This year, Peck said, people were asking one big question: why?
B次元官网网址淪ometimes the answer made us cry, sometimes it sparked joy or worry, and in some cases it even inspired change,B次元官网网址� she said.
Somewhere in all those emotion was the most-wanted item of the year, toilet paper.
B次元官网网址淲hy are people buying toilet paper?B次元官网网址� was the most common B次元官网网址渨hyB次元官网网址� question asked of Google this year
B次元官网网址淭his has been a topic of conversation throughout the pandemic,B次元官网网址� Peck said, and might be spiking again as B.C. introduces new restrictions and Ontario is in another lockdown.
But the list of B次元官网网址渨hyB次元官网网址� questions was not always so light. Many touched on more serious worries about COVID-19, while others were on the Black Lives Matter movement and the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.
B次元官网网址淭his left many people wondering why weB次元官网网址檙e asking the same questions, why are we seeing black men and women lose their lives?B次元官网网址� Peck said.
The top trending search of the year for Canadians is one thatB次元官网网址檚 still fresh for many: the U.S. election.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e really dialled in and engaged into whatB次元官网网址檚 happening south of the border,B次元官网网址� Peck said, noting itB次元官网网址檚 not unusual for American news to trend in any years. B次元官网网址 of the election especially spiked during the debates leading up to voting day and the day itself.
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The third most trending search harkens back to the start of 2020, before most people knew what awaited them this year.
B次元官网网址淜obe Bryant B次元官网网址� this was a really devastating moment and when the news broke in January that Kobe along with his daughter Gianna had passed awayB次元官网网址� in the helicopter crash, it kind of stopped everybody,B次元官网网址� Peck said. B次元官网网址淜obe has inspired so many people both on and off the court.B次元官网网址�
But Bryant was sadly just the first of many celebrities deaths in 2020, B次元官网网址済oodbyes we werenB次元官网网址檛 ready to say.B次元官网网址�
One that likely hit Canadians the hardest was Alex Trebek, who died just over a month ago after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 not only a Canadian icon but heB次元官网网址檚 someone who Canadians and people around the world have invited into their homes night after night through B次元官网网址楯eopardy!B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Despite everything that happened in 2020, Canadians did try to lighten up the mood as they faced months of job losses and pandemic restrictions. They searched for B次元官网网址渆asy cookie recipesB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渟ourdough discard recipes,B次元官网网址� before turning around and looking for B次元官网网址渞esistance band workoutsB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淐hloe Ting workouts.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e all been at home so weB次元官网网址檙e probably spending a little bit more time on social media B次元官网网址� or on our phones or our devices B次元官网网址� and weB次元官网网址檙e seeing that people are turning to memes to find that joy,B次元官网网址� Peck said.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of fun ones hereB次元官网网址� Tiger King, Carole Baskin, Joe Exotic, Love is Blind, and toilet paper memes also come back up. ItB次元官网网址檚 a good indication of the year and some of the things that happened as people tried to find a little bit of laughter.B次元官网网址�
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