Most Popular Google Searches, Instagram Posts & More In 2017
Certain celebrities dominate social media and the news while some come straight out of left field. One star is preparing for a widely anticipated wedding this spring, while another made quite a statement with her baby reveal. Then there's the certain political figure who is constantly making headlines. But there are also people, places, and things that topped Google searches and received a lot of "likes" this year that were totally unexpected. Here's what people were talking about and searching for online in 2017.
Future Royal Meghan Markle
One of Google's most-searched people in 2017 was none other than Meghan Markle. And no, it wasn't because she was in the USA series Suits. Obviously, it was because news started to get out that she was romantically tied to Prince Harry. The world and royal watchers went wild when they found out that Harry appeared to be in a serious relationship -- with an American! The fact that she was an actress and also biracial made many tongues wag. Now that the couple is engaged, their partnership will no doubt continue making headlines around the world.
Beyonce's Twins Announcement
The most liked Instagram pic of all time is of Queen Bey. She posed in a bra with her pregnant belly displayed for all to see. The singer captioned the pic on Feb. 1, 2017: "We would like to share our love and happiness. We have been blessed two times over. We are incredibly grateful that our family will be growing by two, and we thank you for your well wishes. - The Carters." Since she uploaded the image, it has received more than 11 million likes and nearly 550,000 comments. Everyone loves baby news, and when it's someone like Beyonce making the announcement, it's even more special!
Selena Gomez's Coke Ad
Pop star Selena Gomez used to have the most-liked Instagram post before she was usurped by Beyonce. More than 6.8 million people liked her post featuring her ad for Coca-Cola. Gomez is featured with her brown hair flowing as she sips from a bottle of the iconic soda. She shared: "when your lyrics are on the bottle." The lyrics she's referring to are: "You're the spark." Selena looks absolutely stunning in the photo, so it's no surprise it was so popular among her fans. You can also see the tiny tattoo of a music note on her right wrist.
French Star Marion Cotilliard's Affair Gossip
You may wonder why French actress Marion Cotillard was one of Google's most-searched celebrities of the past year. The answer is simple -- her connection to Brad Pitt. Fans were shocked when the actor and his wife Angelina Jolie announced they were divorcing in 2016, and Cotillard happened to be starring alongside Pitt in the film Allied around the same time. As a result, rumors started swirling that she was responsible for their break-up. None of this was substantiated. She is currently in a relationship with French actor and director Guillaume Canet, and the pair welcomed a daughter together in 2017.
Searches About Earth Being Flat Have Tripled
Over the past two years, data from Google Trends revealed that searches for “flat earth” have more than tripled. There is an alarmingly big group of people that believe the earth is flat. There's even a guy named Mike Hughes from California who plans on launching himself out of a rocket to prove that the earth is flat. Rapper Bobby Ray Simmons Jr., aka B.o.B., started a crowdfunding campaign this year to launch satellites into space to determine the shape of the Earth. The first annual Flat Earth International Conference in North Carolina in 2017 included 500 "flat-Earthers."
Cristiano Ronaldo's Baby News
People love almost anything about babies, so soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo's baby news made his Instagram photo the second most-liked of 2017. Over 11 million people swooned over his image on November 12th celebrating the birth of his daughter Alana Martina. He's pictured in the hospital wearing scrubs alongside his girlfriend, new daughter, and his son. They are all smiling for the camera, and it's incredible how beautiful his girlfriend looks after just giving birth. Only months earlier, in June 2017 they expanded their family by two when they welcomed twins (a boy and a girl) with the help of a surrogate.
The Lamborghini Huracán Turned Heads
At the end of the summer and early fall, Google searches spiked for the Lamborghini Huracán. With a price tag of nearly $200,000, it's quite a luxury sports car. They were first released in 2014 and named "The Supercar of the Year" by auto enthusiast magazine Top Gear. The Italian luxury sports carmaker gave one of the vehicles to the Pope in November 2017. He blessed the special edition vehicle, which was designed in papal white and gold. The pope used it to help several charities by auctioning it off to the highest bidder. The pope typically travels in a more modest Ford Focus.
Google Search: Why Do Men Have Nipples?
If you're every uncertain about a body part, and there's no one around to answer your question, of course, you're going to look it up on Google! One of the most common searches is the reason why men have nipples. They don't lactate like women or need to provide milk to infants, so what's the point? The answer -- all male and female mammal embryos start out the same and grow into a particular sex later on during development. Mammary glands start so early on in the process, so that's why both men and women possess them. You're welcome.
Google Search: Does Farting Burn Calories?
Here's another brilliant search on Google. There are some people who like doing as little as they can in order to burn calories. We imagine it would have to take hundreds of farts a day for a person to actually lose weight while expelling gas. They can only hope. The worst part is the people nearby who must endure the constant toots. It's a ridiculous question, yet it does make you wonder. What about burping? Or urinating? Do these functions also burn calories? Whoever is doing this type of searching would be better off hitting the gym or dieting.
Las Vegas Shooting Caused A Spike In Searches
One of this year's most searched places in the United States was Las Vegas, driven by the horrific shooting on October 1, 2017. A gunman fired more than 1,100 rounds from his room at the Mandalay Bay hotel into a crowd of concertgoers attending a music festival. Experts still don't know what his motive was. The event was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history by a sole gunman. A total of 58 people died, and 546 were injured. The second deadliest mass shooting took place in 2016 in Orlando at a nightclub in which 49 died, excluding the gunman.
Apparently, People Are Drinking Blood
Some people are obsessed with vampires. There's something about the fantastical creatures that makes people really excited. But the whole blood drinking thing is quite repulsive to most. Yet, it's something that a lot of people turn to Google to find out, making it one of the search engine's most bizarre queries. If a human ingests a small amount of blood, and it does not include any pathogens, then it probably won't be harmful. However, it contains a lot of iron and can be toxic if consumed in large amounts. Thousands of Americans reportedly drink blood on a regular basis. Seriously.
Google Search: Do Penguins Have Knees?
Most people have seen a penguin waddle, but many people are not exactly clear about a penguin's biology. One commonly googled question is whether they have knees. They do look a little strange the way they wander around, appearing so stiff. Well, they absolutely do have knees! Their legs consist of a femur, knee, tibia, and fibula. You cannot see their upper leg bones because they are covered in feathers, making them appear as though they have short legs and no knees. If you look at a penguin skeleton it becomes very obvious that they have them. Thanks, Google!
Stephen King's It Dominated
One of this summer's most-searched films and books was It by Stephen King. The horror author wrote the book in 1986, and the 2017 film grossed $327.3 million in the United States and Canada. Upon its release in September, it broke records for the largest opening weekend for both a September release and a horror film. Critics really enjoyed the film, as did audiences. Movies are good for escapism and anyone trying to avoid the depressing news. The movie centers on seven children from Derry, Maine, who are terrorized by a clown while battling personal demons. It is the highest-grossing horror film of all time.
Google Search: Are Aliens Real?
People are fascinated by outer space. We love learning about the planets and galaxies and what goes on outside of Earth's atmosphere. And people also want to know if alien life is out there. While there are programs specifically geared towards discovering the presence of life on other planets, no one has definitively proven that aliens are out there. And if they are, what kind would they be? Would they be intelligent beings with advanced knowledge and technology? Perhaps they are lesser beings without much brain power. Either way, the mystery is one that people will keep trying to figure out... by using Google.
Google Search: Is It Normal To Have Green Poop?
It's normal for people to be curious about bodily functions, and when they don't know the answer they often turn to Google. One of the weirdest things people have searched for over the last year is whether the color of their stool is normal. Maybe it's something they ate or they could have a medical problem that caused the unusual coloration. But at least these people were trying to find the answer. What did people do before Google? Actually go to the doctor, perhaps? But when it's an embarrassing condition, many would rather seek the answer themselves than call a professional.
Hurricane Maria Spurred Searches On Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria, a category four storm, when it made landfall in September 2017. Nearly 60 people died as a result, and much more were injured. The hurricane devastated the island, which is a US territory in the Caribbean with 3.4 million American citizens. The entire island was left without power following the huge storm, and it took long months for many people to have their power restored. As of December, only 66 percent of the island had power. As expected, searches for Puerto Rico surged in the days following the devastating storm.
Many Want To Know About The Happy Birthday Song
What song do web users consistently search for online? The Happy Birthday song. Songwriting team Mildred and Patty Hill wrote "Good Morning To All" in the 19th century, and it turned into "Happy Birthday To You." There is some very curious history about the tune. Believe it or not, Warner Music Group acquired rights to the song in 1988 and receives about $2 million each year from film and TV studios who use the songs in their productions. The copyright will remain in effect until 2030, so the company will be making big bucks from the tune for many years to come.
The Most Tweeted About TV Shows
People love talking about their favorite television shows, tweeting while binge-watching, all the while being very, very careful not to run into any spoilers. In 2017, the top TV shows trending on Twitter were Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, and 13 Reasons Why. Fantasy, science fiction, and drama mysteries captivated people until the very last minute, and no one could stop tweeting about it. In August of 2017, the seventh season finale of Game of Thrones received 12.1 million viewers on HBO, setting a new record.
Searches For "Mosquito" Rise In Summer
Once June arrives, people start thinking about summer. That means vacation, the end of school, and of course, mosquitoes. Everyone hates the insects who prey on humans and literally suck their blood. People are always looking for ways to combat the pesky creatures and prevent them from leaving itchy spots on their victims, thus they turn to Google. Mosquitoes, which in Spanish mean "little flies," are also known for carrying some terrible diseases such as malaria and Lyme disease. Only the females bite, and they are attracted to carbon dioxide. Sweat and bacteria on the skin is also a big draw for the tiny insects.
