Marketing 7 min read

Top 10 Global Searches for the Year 2017 Released by Google

If you're curious about the top 10 most searched things in Google this year, check out this complete list--you'll probably be surprised who/what made it.

Google just released the list of its top 10 global searches for 2017, giving us a glimpse of what people have been looking for on the Internet these past 12 months.

The holiday season has just begun, and 2017 is quickly nearing the end of its line. For years, it has been a tradition for the search engine giant Google to release its annual top 10 global searches–a list dedicated to the most searched topics online from around the world.

According to Google, it’s one way of reminding us of the significant things and events that made a huge impact in our world for the past 365 days. The company said that for 2017, they had seen a huge increase in searches starting with “how.”

This includes how questions like “how far can North Korean missiles go,” “how do wildfires start,” “how to help flood victims,” and many more. These questions have been searched ten times more this year than in 2016.

Apparently, these questions are mere reflections of what the world has been going through for the past months. While some of the searches refer to natural calamities, many of it involves controversial world leaders, personalities, and conflicting nations.

Now that’s some 2017.

@Google finally released its top 10 global searches of #2017 Click To Tweet

However, Google hopes that by releasing the top 10 global searches, we would have a better understanding of the current state of our world and find it in ourselves to help push things forward.

Are you ready? Let’s take a look back at what transpired this year.

Google’s Top 10 Global Searches for 2017

1. Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma was a Cat-5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph, the strongest observed in the Atlantic since 2005. The storm wreaked havoc in several islands located in the Caribbean and eastern coastal regions of the United States.

Areas affected include Cape Verde, Leeward Islands, Greater Antilles, Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the Eastern United States. Irma caused the death of around 134 people, and its estimated damage cost is over $66.77 billion USD.

2. iPhone 8

iPhone 8 - number 2 in Google's top 10 global searches
iPhone 8 | BagoGames |

iPhone 8 is one of the three smartphones Apple launched in September, alongside the company’s 10th anniversary and current flagship phone iPhone X.

Wondering why iPhone 8 ranks higher than iPhone X in the top 10 global searches list? The answer lies with the latter being heavily leaked months before the big reveal.

People just naturally lose their interest in the pricey iPhone X after its specs and features were circulated online. Thus shifting their attention to its much more affordable and less-leaked contemporary, the iPhone 8.

3. iPhone X

iPhone X - number 3 in Google's top 10 global searches
iPhone X |

The iPhone X was announced in September and was released to the public just last month. It was originally believed to be the iPhone 8 and was considered the most leaked smartphone of Apple. Then again, Apple chose to do the unthinkable.

iPhone 8, originally thought of as the iPhone 7S, was released but turned out to be a different phone and the leaked iPhone 8 was named iPhone X, with the company skipping the number 9.

iPhone X marked Apple iPhone’s 10th year anniversary, with the “X” representing 10 in Roman numerals.

So if you’re still calling the smartphone iPhone “Ex” up to this moment, it’s not too late to correct yourself. It’s iPhone “Ten.”

4. Matt Lauer

Matt Lauer was once a popular and well-respected American journalist, hosting the U.S. TV program The Today Show for 20 years, from 1997 to 2017. However, on November 28th, the veteran journalist was terminated by NBC Chairman Andrew Lack over inappropriate sexual behavior allegations by an unnamed employee.

The New York Times and Variety Magazine shortly after released the results of several investigations exposing Lauer’s other sexual exploits against multiple women.

5. Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle - number 5 in Google's top 10 global searches
Meghan Markle |

Meghan Markle is an American actress, starring in several U.S. TV shows such as Suits, 90210, Castle, and films including Horrible Bosses and Anti-Social. Markle is also involved in humanitarian works. Right now, she’s a counselor for the international charity One Young World and a global ambassador for the World Vision Canada.

Markle made headlines worldwide when her romance with Prince Harry, the fifth in line to the British throne, was made public. News about the actress was further fueled by the announcement of their engagement late last month.

The couple will be wed in May 2018 at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, making Markle the first mixed-race member of the British Royal family.

6. 13 Reasons Why

13 Reasons Why is an American drama-mystery series based on the 2007 novel of the same title by Jay Asher. Its first season debuted on Netflix on March 31st. The series received positive global reviews from critics and audiences alike for bravely tackling the topics of suicide, rape, depression, bullying, and other issues faced by teenagers today. The next season of 13 Reasons Why is set to be released in 2018.

7. Tom Petty

Thomas Earl Petty, popularly known as Tom Petty, was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and actor. He was the lead singer of the band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers who rose to rock stardom in the mid-70s. Petty recorded a number of hit singles such as the Full Moon Fever and Wildflowers. In 2001, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The rock industry mourned Petty’s sudden death last October due to cardiac arrest.

8. Fidget Spinners

Fidget Spinners - number 8 in Google's top 10 global searches
Fidget Spinners | Mediamodifier |

Fidget spinners rose to popularity in April of this year although similar devices were already available since the early 90s. The toy has been widely promoted as a device to help people who have trouble focusing or those with fidgeting habits.

It was claimed that it could relieve nervous energy or psychological stress, even calming people who suffer from anxiety and other neurological disorders. However, there has been no scientific evidence to support the claims. Because of its popularity among children and teenagers, some schools were forced to ban fidget spinners in class.

9. Chester Bennington

Chester Bennington was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was popularly known as the lead singer of the rock band Linkin Park. Bennington and his band released several best-selling albums like Hybrid Theory and Meteora. They also made people worldwide sing their heartfelt, dark songs like In the End, Crawling, and Numb.

For the duration of his career, Bennington suffered from poor health conditions. He shocked the world last July when he committed suicide by hanging himself at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California after allegedly suffering severe depression.

10. India National Cricket Team

Last but not the least in Google’s top 10 global searches is the India National Cricket Team. Commonly known as Team India and Men in Blue, the team has been representing India in several international cricket competitions for years.

While the team is considered stronger at home than abroad, Team India eventually improved its play overseas with the passing of time. Its many achievements include winning the Cricket World Cup in 1983 and 2011, making India the third team after West Indies and Australia to win the World Cup more than once.

Right now, India National Cricket Team is ranked first in Test, second in ODIs, and fifth in T201s by the ICC.

Have you searched for any of these topics on Google?

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Rechelle Ann Fuertes


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  1. 约炮把妹 December 15 at 12:51 am GMT


  2. 中青看点 December 15 at 3:07 am GMT


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