Data from Google, the world’s largest search engine, have revealed that the most popular search themes in Finland this year were the US presidential election, the reality TV show Big Brother and recipes for potato salad.
One search term rose far from the others: the coronavirus. Although the word was known to very few people a year ago, the pandemic that erupted earlier this year has become the number one search topic in 2020.
Google data also showed an increase in the number of searches submitted as queries, with coronavirus-related queries – such as the origin of the pandemic, the incidence of infections and the use of masks – all among the top ten.
"It’s great to see that Google search can provide help, information, and guidance even in these exceptional circumstances," Google Marketing Manager in Finland Yacine Samb said in a press release. "We help people find reliable information by also providing information boxes for coronavirus-related searches that contain information provided by health authorities."
Politics, entertainment, food were popular categories
In the news section of the search terms, the most popular was the coronavirus pandemic, followed by the closure of the Uusimaa border in March and the US presidential election in November.
Finnish seekers were also interested in Vastamo’s hacking and blackmail scandal, the Black Lives Matter movement and emergency powers.
In terms of entertainment, a reality TV show Big brother was the most popular search term in this section, as it has been on a regular basis in recent years. Other popular searches were music-based performances Only life (‘It’s just life’) and Disguised singer.
Oscar-winning Korean film Parasite also featured in the list of top searches.
As people spend more time at home due to movement restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus, recipes will become an increasingly popular search term this year.
Potato salad was the most popular term in this category, while seekers were also interested in smoothies, chanterelles and Brussels sprouts.