Potpourri” best describes what Asians searched for in 2013. Gadgets, online music/videos, sports, movies, newsmakers, haze, travel destinations, fashion brands were the trending and searched favourites, according to data from Google Zeitgeist 2013.
However, a few countries broke the trend with searches that were not the norm. Examples, foreign cars for Malaysia even though the country has its own home grown cars that are not on the searched list; female actresses in India, a reflection of the country’s obsession with the movie world; dogs in the Philippines showing its people love for the canine.
Indonesia
Money seems to be on the mind of Indonesians as the top search was on banks with BCA, Nbanl Mandiri and BNI as the top three.
The tech-loving nation also loves games with Angry Birds, Dragon City and local games, Pendekar Naga.
Everyone loves movies and Indonesians are no exception, with choices ranging from action – Iron Man 3, to horror – The Conjuring, to comedy – Despicable Me 2
More on what Indonesians searched and what’s trending here.
Malaysia
With politics being a hot topic in Malaysia before and after the country’s 13th general elections on May 5, 2013 it is not surprising that the GE13 politicians featured highly in Google search with opposition leaders Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang in the first and second spot, while Prime Minister Najib Razak came in fourth.
Brand loving Malaysians searched for all the big names, with Coach, Louis Vuitton and Burberry being the favourite.
Cars were on the top list for Malaysians in 2013, not surprising it being a car loving nation, Even though the country produces its own car brand, it was not on the list, instead Nissan Almera, Kia Cerato, Toyota Vios (a favourite among Malaysians) are the most searched.
More on what Malaysians searched and what’s trending here.
Singapore
According to Google’s annual Year End Zeitgeist, Singaporeans were most obsessed with the haze, followed by diseases, murder and celebrity deaths.
Number one on the search list was the Southeast Asian haze as Singaporeans searched for information about the phenomenon by looking up the latest PSI readings, facts about haze particles, and preventative masks.(read article here)
Philippines
People, apps, dogs dominated searches by Filipinos with the late movie star Paul Walker topping the People and Overall Searches categories. Filipinos were also fascinated with the massive, ultra expensive Tibetan Mastiff, which topped the search list, followed by two comparatively small dogs – Corgi and Pomeranian.
• More on what the Filipinos searched and what’s trending here.
Thailand
Videos, videos and games rule in Thailand, with some of the most popular searches on these topics. Trending are airlines, cars and gadgets with the Vios 2013 being the most popular car while Apple and Samsung products dominate the tech/gadget search.
• More on what Thais searched and what’s trending here.
India
Online store like flipkart, live cricket score, PNR information, movies, netbanking trend in Indian searches. One of the most popular searches is on Indian actresses with the beautiful Katrina Kaif making the list, alongside famous names like Priyanka Chopra and the ever popular Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
• More on what Indians searched and what’s trending here.
China
Domestic tourism is one of the greatest contributors to China’s tourism receipts and Chinese visit their own country in droves during national holidays in May, October and over Chinese New Year. So it is not surprising that local destinations were popular searches.
Being avid shoppers and brand lovers, names like Zara, Prada and Burberry are the most searched item. are what the brand loving Chinese googled the most in 2013, followed by local holiday destinations.
Online shopping is also trending, with visits to sites selling games, tech gadgets, accessories and related.
• More on what Chinese searched and what’s trending here.
Hong Kong
Current news, especially headline grabbing events like the Edward Snowden saga, featured high on Hong Kongers’ search list. So were magazines and news on arts, pop culture and socialites including Chinese film stars and singers to whom the former British colony is home.
And like their counterparts from APAC, gadget specifically smartphones with Samsung Galaxy 4, iPhone 5 and Song Xperia Z grabbing the attention.
• More on what Hong Kongers searched for and what’s trending here.
Taiwan
Online games, gadgets, apps, bloggers and movies are trending in Taiwan. Social media, specifically Facebook, Yahoo and YouTube dominate the search. So are local social sites like Xuite.net
• More on what Taiwanese searched for and what’s trending here.
AND: This is what the world searched for in 2013 (video below)
• Video and images courtesy of Google Zeitgeist 2013