This is what you
searched in 2024

Google revealed its 2024 Year in Search [YIS] for South Africa on Tuesday, revealing unexpected trends and fascinating insights into the collective consciousness. 

Year in Search provides an annual analysis that reveals the top trending lists and spotlights what the world searches to see, learn, and do. In South Africa, this year’s results show a heightened interest in entertainment, current affairs, events, sports, celebrities, and notable personalities who have passed away.

“Demure,” once a term often associated with outdated notions of femininity, has been reclaimed and reimagined for a new generation. What began as a playful TikTok trend ignited a broader conversation about individuality, self-expression, and challenging societal norms. From fashion runways to social media feeds, the word “demure” was everywhere, sparking curiosity and inspiring creativity – the meaning of the word demure is one of this year’s most searched words, according to the 2024 Year in Search data.

Google does not mention the origin of the trend, which is not surprising, considering it came from a rival social network. TikTok creator Jools Lebron has been widely credited with popularising the trend by using the term to describe herself in videos. 

Tshwala Bami, a captivating amapiano track featuring S.N.E and EeQue, took the music world by storm. Released earlier this year, the song surpassed 100-million streams within a month after its release, solidifying its position as a global hit and this year’s most searched Amapiano dance tune.

Among celebrities and media personalities who passed away this year, a talented and rising star in the South African film industry, Mpho Sebeng,  topped the search list for loss. The passing on of Liam Payne and Pravin Gordhan followed in this category as losses that captured the interest of South Africans this year.

After conquering the box office worldwide, Inside Out 2 soared to the top of South Africa’s most searched movies, while Baby Reindeer claimed the number one spot for the most searched TV shows.

South Africans were eager to make their mark during the 2024 National Elections in May, and IEC topped the most searched event list. Online searches also revealed a keen interest in the results of the US Elections, which came up second place as the most searched event this year.

From a sporting perspective, AFCON, Euro 2024 and T20 World Cup, a biennial T20 cricket tournament, dominated sporting events that South Africans were interested in. The AFCON, which also topped the list of searches, was held in Ivory Coast and saw Bafana Bafana achieving an impressive run, igniting national pride. 

Below are the full lists of Top Trending Searches by South Africans in 2024: 

For more information on Google’s Year in Search across the globe visit the Google’s trends site.