So What Have Us UK Google Fanatics Been Searching for in 2009?

Google have released Google Zeitgeist for 2009 which is a look into the collective psyche of the world to see what's been pushing people's buttons when it comes to things to search for.  Here's my (tongue-in-cheek) look at what's been hot for UK Google searchers over the last year:

Fastest Rising

1.   facebook
2.   jogos
3.   ebay uk
4.   yahoo mail
5.   hotmail
6.   bbc iplayer
7.   hi5
8.   stephen gately
9.   bing
10. spotify
 

I think something went wrong at Google here, are you seriously telling me that the search term that has seen the second highest rise in popularity in UK Google searches is the Portugese word for "games"?? Nice to see a Channel 5 programme aimed at 5 year olds nestling in there below the bbc iplayer though, it's reassuring to know that we have very intelligent children, proficient in the use of computers from an early age here in good old Blighty.

Most Popular

1.   facebook
2.   bbc
3.   youtube
4.   hotmail
5.   games
6.   ebay
7.   news
8.   google
9.   yahoo
10. bebo
 

That's better Google!  I can see the British public searching for games in English! This list of the most popular searches over the past year is perhaps most remarkable for it's absence of Twitter (which was the most used word in the world over the last year, apparently).

Hey, does anyone remember Bebo?

Hottest news searches

1.   swine flu
2.   susan boyle
3.   jade goody
4.   robert pattison
5.   rihanna
6.   michael jackson
7.   google maps
8.   twitter
9.   stephen gately
10. iran
 

Sorry Jacko, king of pop or not you just won't be as sorely missed as our Jade.

Bargain hunting (top cheap searches)

1.   flights
2.   holiday
3.   train tickets
4.   car insurance
5.   hotels
6.   laptops
7.   travel insurance
8.   car hire
9.   tyres
10. concert tickets
 
We certainly are a thrifty bunch! 

Hottest tickets

1.   lady gaga
2.   michael jackson
3.   taylor swift
4.   whitney houston
5.   pixies
6.   jls
7.   beyonce
8.   green day
9.   tinchy stryder
10. u2
 
Lady Gaga number 1?  Really?  Did you know that Britain was once seen as a great nation and had an empire and everything?  This list just shows how wrong things can go. 

I feel...

1.   love
2.   alone
3.   fine
4.   good
5.   sick
6.   fat
7.   ill
8.   pretty
9.   ugly
10. free
 
Awwwww....
 
So what do you think?  Is this snapshot a true reflection of the collective outlook of modern Britain?