Home Google Zeitgeist 2012: Top Searches Of The Year [Video]

Google Zeitgeist 2012: Top Searches Of The Year [Video]

Gangnam Style, the presidential election of 2012, Hurricane Sandy and Felix Baumgartner’s supersonic freefall; these are just a few of Google’s top searches featured in their Zeitgeist 2012: Year in Review video uploaded today. 

Besides historic events, scientific discoveries, celebrity deaths and the top trending videos, the 2:46 digital capsule is also a sly advert for Google+. The camera pans over Google hangouts or videos obviously being watched on Google+, the social network often ridiculed for being a ghost town. Zeitgeist 2012 also highlighted YouTube’s livestreaming success by bookending the video with Felix Baumgartner’s record-breaking stunt (aka Red Bull Stratos’ marketing success).     

What was noticably missing from Zeitgeist 2012 was any mention of porn. Everyone knows “the Internet is for porn,” and according to Google trends data, searches for porn easily dwarf searchs for, say, “Gangnam Style” which was featured in the 2012 Zeitgeist video. Kevin Stenbeck knows what I am talking about: 

All jokes aside, the Google Zeitgeist site also features a Gangnam Style Easter egg.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.