It has been a year that has rocked our political foundations‚ but many South Africans will remember 2016 as the year of Pokémon Go.
Google's top searches for 2016‚ announced yesterday, reveal that the location-based augmented reality game was the most popular topic entered in the web giant's search engine.
In the midst of revelations about state capture that hogged the headlines‚ politics only made it to No 5 on Google's list — and that was for Donald Trump‚ elected last month as the 45th US President.
But international sport loomed larger in most people's minds‚ with Euro 2016 and the Rio Olympics capturing second and third spots.
Google also announced the top 10 "what is" and "how to" questions for the year. The top two concerned a certain game . . .
"Where last year's top searches — load-shedding and xenophobia — were distinctly local issues‚ this year's top searches s how South African eyes are turned to the world at large‚ not just at home," said a Google spokesman.
Top trending overall searches
1. Pokémon Go 2. Euro 2016 3. Olympic Games Rio 2016 4. Donald Trump 5. Election results 6. Mandoza 7. IEC 8. Mall of Africa 9. Caster Semenya 10. US elections 2016
Top trending South African public personalities and politicians
1. Jacob Zuma 2. Public Protector 3. Gupta family 4. Thoko Didiza 5. Mcebo Dlamini 6. Pravin Gordhan 7. Sipho Pityana 8. Brian Molefe 9. Thuli Madonsela 10. Khwesi
Top trending 'how to' searches
1. How to download Pokémon Go; 2. How to build a strong business relationship; 3. How to lose belly fat; 4. How to heat up cosmetic oil for production; 5. How to remove bookmarks; 6. How to make slime 7. How to tie a doek; 8. How to deal with poor confidence; 9. How to cope with being alone; 10. How to prepare battered jackfruit
Top trending 'what is' searches
1. What is Pokémon Go? 2. What is Java? 3. What is globalisation? 4. What is a blesser? 5. What is Brexit? 6. What is the weather today? 7. What is meant by restorative justice? 8. What is research? 9. What is a dependent variable?; 10. What is a biome?
