The month of March has been one busy one for South Africa. From the EFF National Shutdown, cabinet reshuffle, Thabo Bester's Hollywood-style prison break, and the deaths of two high-profile musicians, Costa Titch and Gloria Bosman. South Africans looking to make sense of the world, turned to Google to find out more information. Google Search data shows exactly what kept them curious this month. Earlier this year, Google announced that "artificial intelligence' was searched more than ever in 2022, and that interest is not subsiding with the top searched question in March relating to AI. South Africans also searched for more information on Human Rights Day, celebrated on 21 March, and Saint Patrick's Day on 17 March.?
MOST ASKED QUESTIONS?
South Africans took to Google for answers to some serious questions including, "What is inflation?' and "What is the most direct way to alleviate poverty in South Africa?' and "What is climate change?" Thabo Bester known as the Facebook Rapist features in both the top trending questions, and terms list. South Africans have been gripped by revelations that he faked his own death to escape from prison and is currently on the run. ?
MOST SEARCHED
When President Cyril Ramaphosa announced his new cabinet earlier this month, South Africans turned to Google to find out who the newly appointed Minister of Electricity was. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa stepped into the brand-new cabinet post on March 6th as the Minister of Electricity. The country also mourned the deaths of musicians, Costa Titch, who died on 11 March after collapsing on stage and jazz great, Gloria Bosman who died on 14 March after a short illness. Both feature in the top 10 trending search terms for the month. South Africans also used Google to find out more about Riana Pretorius, who was abducted in Gqeberha on 16 March 2023 and who was found safe after an eight-day search. Only one sports search made it into this month's search trends- West Indies vs South Africa.
Top searched questions
1. What is ChatGPT?
2. Who is Thabo Bester?
3. Who is the Minister of finance?
4. Who is Nhlanhla Lux?
5. What is the most direct way to alleviate poverty in South Africa?
6. What is climate change?
7. Who is the minister of electricity?
8. What is inflation?
9. What is Human Rights Day?
Top searched terms
1. Costa Titch
2. International Women's Day
3. National Shutdown
4. Thabo Bester
5. West Indies vs South Africa
6. Nhlanhla Lux
7. Gloria Bosman
8. Riana Pretorius
9. Katlego Danke
10. Terry Pheto
Search trends information is gathered from data collated by Google based on what South Africans have been searching for Google processes more than 40 000 search queries every second. This translates to more than a billion searches per day and 1.2 trillion searches per year worldwide. 'Top searches' indicate searches that topped Google's charts while 'Most searched' queries are the most popular terms for the past 15 years, ranked in order by volume of searches.
