Google has released its lists of fastest rising search terms – comparing this year to 2008 – in Canada and the United States. Yahoo!’s lists are of its most popular terms for 2009 alone. The Globe and Mail has added its own lists of top searches. Michael Jackson made most lists in Canada and the U.S. – but “Michael” for serious-minded Globe searchers also meant Bryant. Farrah Fawcett – another deceased celebrity – scored on both sides of the border, as did American Idol and surprise singer Susan Boyle. Social networking sites are all the rage, including Facebook and the fastest-rising Google search in both countries – Twitter. Canadian Yahoo! users seem obsessed with sports, especially rough ones – NHL, UFC, WWE, NASCAR and NBA. Globe readers – suggesting a masochistic streak – made Toronto Maple Leafs their No. 1.
GOOGLE / FASTEST RISING, U.S.
1. Twitter
2. Michael Jackson
3. Facebook
4. Hulu
5. hi5
6. Glee
7. Paranormal Activity
8. Natasha Richardson
9. Farrah Fawcett
10. Lady Gaga
FASTEST RISING, CANADA
1. Twitter
2. BlackBerry
3. Yahoo! mail
4. Accèsd
5. Craigslist
6. Natasha Richardson
7. Justin Bieber
8. New Moon
9. Michael Jackson
10. Google street view
FASTEST RISING, IMAGES, U.S.
1. Lady Gaga
2. New Moon
3. Michael Jackson
4. Megan Fox
5. Selena Gomez
6. Rihanna
7. Taylor Swift
8. Bella Swan
9. Alice Cullen
10. Jacob Black
YAHOO! / TOP, U.S.
1. Michael Jackson
2. The Twilight Saga
3. WWE
4. Megan Fox
5. Britney Spears
6. Naruto
7. American Idol
8. Kim Kardashian
9. NASCAR
10. RuneScape
TOP, CANADA
1. NHL
2. RuneScape
3. UFC
4. WWE
5. Michael Jackson
6. Megan Fox
7. American Idol
8. NASCAR
9. NBA
10. Susan Boyle
TOP ATHLETES, CANADA
1. Sidney Crosby
2. Tiger Woods
3. Manny Pacquiao
4. Gina Carano
5. Rafael Nadal
6. Maria Sharapova
7. Cristiano Ronaldo
8. Maria Verchenova
9. David Beckham
10. Roger Federer
GLOBEANDMAIL.COM / TOP
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
2. Nortel
3. H1N1
4. Susan Boyle
5. Air Canada
6. YouTube
7. Toronto Raptors
8. Roger Federer
9. Vancouver Canucks
10. CanWest
TOP NEWS
1. Nortel
2. Air Canada
3. Toronto Maple Leafs
4. YouTube
5. Canadian Dollar
6. CanWest
7. Swine Flu
8. Facebook
9. Chrysler
10. Phoenix Coyotes
TOP PEOPLE
1. Susan Boyle
2. Michael Jackson
3. Michael Bryant
4. Tori Stafford
5. Natasha Richardson
6. Martin Streek
7. Jon and Kate
8. Tiger Woods
9. Roger Federer
10. Barack Obama
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