2010 in trends: The year according to Google and Twitter

The end of the year is a time for lists and summaries. And Auld Lang Syne. So while the mince pies and mulled wine flow, it is always worth taking a look back over the last twelve months. Today, social networking site Twitter released their ‘trends of 2010' - a comprehensive list of the biggest ‘trends' of 2010. Essentially, this is a list of what the online world has been talking about this year, and it certainly makes for interesting reading.

Before continuing, here's the main list of the overall top trends on Twitter in 2010:

1. Gulf Oil Spill
2. FIFA World Cup
3. Inception
4. Haiti Earthquake
5. Vuvuzela
6. Apple iPad
7. Google Android
8. Justin Bieber
9. Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows
10. Pulpo Paul

The list certainly shows that Twitter is talking more about the trivial than the political. Arguably, just two genuine news stories make the final list; the Gulf Oil Spill and the Haiti Earthquake.

Elsewhere, the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa dominates the listings, with three entries (at numbers two, five and ten) and there are high entries for two of the year's biggest gadget stories - the Apple iPad and Google's Android operating system for smartphones and tablets.

On the face of it, it would appear that what is discussed on Twitter mirrors what we discuss in real life; but this is starting to not be the case. This year, the website started listing ‘promoted' trends; essentially these are topics that companies pay to have placed prominently on Twitter.

Perhaps this goes some way to explaining Inception being the third biggest ‘trend' of 2010. Some may have questioned Twitter as a viable business model, but it would already appear as if the way in which we talk online can be shaped into profits.

For a more localised view, Google's annual ‘Zeitgeist' of the year offers a UK perspective on the internet over the last twelve months. Perhaps a sign of a more politicised internet, the news listings for 2010 are dominated by one thing; elections. Six of the top ten results link directly to the 2010 general election.

Curiously, Alex Jones is listed as the tenth most popular search under ‘news and current events'. Who is Alex Jones? A presenter on the BBC One programme ‘The One Show' of course. Make of that what you will.

Data like this always makes for interesting reading, and there is certainly lots of it to explore and comment on. For example, the top ten list for food and drink searches in the UK features pizza, wine, cakes and curry. And not a healthy option in sight. Hardly the sign of a nation that might be thinking about more healthy eating habits...

To explore the data for yourself, Google's Zeitgeist can be found here and Twitter's review of the year can be found here. Share your views and findings by commenting below.