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Biggest Google search by Australians was Paul Walker

SEARCH engine Google has revealed the top search queries of Australians in 2013. We list top 10 trending, most searched, how to and what is lists.

Vin Diesel pays heartfelt tribute to Paul Walker

AUSTRALIANS are more curious about dead people than live ones, more concerned about the environment than their health, want to know how to draw, kiss and twerk, and can't spell "Facebook," their national air carrier, or the name of the search engine into which they're typing queries.

These are results from Google's annual Zeitgeist list, released today, highlighting the biggest internet search trends of 2013.

News_Image_File: The top trending searches.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, two deceased celebrities topped the world's biggest trending searches - Fast and Furious actor Paul Walker and Glee star Cory Monteith - followed by the new life in the form of "royal baby" Prince George Alexander Louis.

News_Rich_Media: CCTV images have emerged of the moments the Porsche Paul Walker was a passenger in ran off the road and burst into flames. Courtesy TMZ.

News_Image_File: Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, show their new-born baby boy Prince George to the world's media, standing on the steps outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London on July 23, 2013. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL

But it is perhaps the quirkier lists of search queries that provide greater insight into what Australians were pondering this year.

Google Australia spokesman Shane Treeves said the annual search results often indicated more than just what we were arguing over during "dinner party disputes".

News_Image_File: The top 'how to' searches.

"Google's year-end Zeitgeist is a cultural barometer that provides a snapshot of the year's big events, memorable moments and growing trends in Australia," Mr Treeves said.

On political issues, Australians most often called up environmental issues before issues of health, human rights, euthanasia and asylum seekers.

News_Image_File: What is ...?

Despite having more Twitter followers and Facebook fans, Kevin Rudd was again beaten by Tony Abbott for the title of most searched for Australian politician, and new Labor leader Bill Shorten came in at number six.

News_Image_File: Most searched Australian celebrities.

But we weren't just considering the big issues. When it came to internet searches preferenced with "what is" we wanted to know more about twerking than love, and gluten than depression.

According to search queries, Australians also quizzed the internet giant about how to draw, how to kiss and, yes, how to twerk (perhaps after we discovered what it was).

News_Image_File: Misspelled queries.

News_Rich_Media: Miley Cyrus' recent performance at the VMAs became a worldwide phenomenon. Courtesy MTV

Despite no longer modelling for Victoria's Secret, homegrown model Miranda Kerr topped the list of most searched Australian celebrities, followed by Biggest Loser host and recent divorcee Michelle Bridges and, oddly, bookie Tom Waterhouse.

News_Image_File: The political issues.

In the entertainment field, Australians proved they were still hung up on Psy's Gangnam Style, giving it the title of the biggest trending song search of the year, outperforming 2013 earworms Blurred Lines and Wrecking Ball.

News_Image_File: Politicians.

Old favourites Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi topped the most searched for music tours of Australia, however, beating adopted daughter Pink, while the Future Music beat other festival rivals.

News_Image_File: Trending songs.

Despite all this computer use, however, Australians regularly misspelled their search targets.

"Facebook" was the most regularly misspelled word, followed by the very search engine they were using, "Google," and national airline Qantas.

News_Image_File: Music tours in Oz.

News_Image_File: Festivals.

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/biggest-google-search-by-australians-was-paul-walker/news-story/46b6e06ac7a7b461bc50b3a6f2c5dcaf