Google releases 2020′s most searched terms

As 2020 comes to a close, Google has announced the most searched terms, phrases and questions of the year.

The search engine revealed what’s been on people’s minds across multiple categories, including news topics, athletes, recipes, TV shows, and more.

The most searched terms across the United States? “Coronavirus” and “election results.”

Kobe Bryant was the No. 3 most searched topic overall throughout the year, followed by the terms “coronavirus update” and “coronavirus symptoms.”

Here’s what else people wondered about:

Tom Hanks, who was among the first celebrities to publicly announce he had tested positive for COVID-19 back in March, was the No. 1 searched actor.

NASCAR’s Ryan Newman ranked No. 1 among athletes. During February’s Daytona 500, Newman survived a serious accident in which his car went airborne and flipped several times before landing in a fiery heap. Tom Brady, who announced he was joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after 20 years with the New England Patriots, ranked second.

President-elect Joe Biden ranked No. 1 among all people after defeating President Donald Trump in a highly controversial election. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris ranked third.

The most searched projects and tasks were related to staying safe during the pandemic.

While stuck at home, most shoppers wondered where they could purchase game consoles, like the newly released X-box Series X and the newest PlayStation. Others wondered where they could get their hands on toilet paper after people unexpectedly purchased the home good in droves.

Many people searched for how they could give back.

The most burning questions reflected some of the biggest conversation topics of the year, although it’s unclear how or why chainsaws earned the No. 1 spot.

Among the figures that died this year, Kobe Bryant, Naya Rivera of “Glee” and Chadwick Boseman of “Black Panther” — all three of which unexpectedly passed under tragic circumstances — were searched the most.

Netflix’s “Tiger King” gained extreme attention during the height of shutdowns back in March and earned the No. 1 spot among TV shows.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and singer Grimes announced the birth of their son in May. The child, originally named X Æ A-12 Musk, was later renamed X Æ A-Xii, a never-before-seen moniker that prompted intrigue.

Closed and limited restaurants caused many people to cook and eat at home more than ever. Apparently, lots of people began making homemade bread.

For those who aimed to better their situations during the pandemic, many sought information regarding how to better position their finances and well-being.

Others were curious about how to style and maintain their hair.

Among the most searched definitions were “WAP,” the title of Cardi B’s hit song, and buzzworthy words related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the heightened conversations surrounding racial equality in the country.

See more here.

Cox Media Group