Search Behavior Proves Humans Are Just Weird
This amazing post on why Google loves Denmark inspired me. What do people search for? What are we thinking? What does Google think? I started this thinking I would find some funny stuff, but I was not at all prepared for some of these results. Some of them are offensive, so be warned. Some are absolutely hilarious. All of them say something about human behavior online...
First, some general questions:
Why...
I kept looking. I asked "Why," "What," "When," and "Where."
Then, I decided, what do people think about the countries within the G8? How about the continents? I moved onto "I Am," then kept going. But a lot of them were just too offensive to post. All of them have something striking and a bit surprising. I have to admit, some of them are just depressing, like, "What should I do with my life?" Sure, we all ask that question, but are we really hoping to find answers on Google?
I could say more, but enjoy peering into the dark, weird soul of humanity.
What...
When...
Where...
The G8...
And the a few of the Continents...
Last, I am...
Wow.
It’s interesting that there are still heavy stereotypes in the world, as well as people questioning racial epithets. I never really paid too much attention to the assistive search technology from Google, but now I’m a little intrigued and may end up paying closer attention to what Google spits back with this feature.
how are there 2,000,000 results for “why would you be drawing in the dark when you could be drawing in the light?” … nevermind, looks to be song lyrics
WOW! How interesting! The “Why” “What” “When” ones are so random!
Nicely done.
I’m actually writing a book right now regarding this very topic so to speak. I shared with my wife that for the first time in human history, we have a visual into a small glimpse of the soul of mankind.
By keyword research, using root phrases like above, or “how to” is so revealing to what people really think, its mind blowing.
There is an associated anonymity that the internet provides people, so for the first time, ever, you have people typing their unspoken minds into Google looking for information they may be afraid to admit out loud.
So what people may be afraid to say, they find the courage to type and scratch their curious itch, regardless of how weird it might seem to others.
Very thought provoking topic. Thanks for the post!
Will
@Will - I couldn’t agree more. Well said! What’s the name of your book?
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