You" (likely a generic term) surprisingly ranked third in global Google search activity in 2024, with an index of 87

Key takeaways:

  • “Google” was the top search globally in 2024 with an index score of 100.
  • “You” ranked unexpectedly high at 87, signalling odd but high-frequency global queries.
  • YouTube held the 2nd spot with a score of 88, showing its continued dominance in media consumption.
  • Messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook tied at 52, reinforcing their centrality in digital life.
  • Google Translate (49) was a widely used tool, reflecting global interconnectedness.

In 2024, the term “You” ranked third with a surprisingly high index of 87, just one point behind “YouTube.” While “You” is likely a generic or a query meant to get other results, for example, "You" appears in related searches like  YouTube (video search company), You (TV series), YouTube Music (media platform), etc. Its appearance highlights some of the unexpected patterns in global search behavior. It shows that not all top searches are for brands, services, or events—sometimes it's the ambiguous or common words that make the biggest noise online.
Behind these top queries are our daily habits and digital routines. From checking the “Weather” (index: 63) to communicating via “WhatsApp” and “Facebook” (both at 52), this reflects how deeply digital tools have embedded into our everyday lives. Even more utilitarian searches like “Translate” (49) and “News” (35) show our constant need for real-time information and connection in a fast-moving, multilingual world.

Source:

Google Trends

Period:

2024
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Related Insights
English accounts for 49.40% of internet content in 2024, vastly outpacing the combined share of the next three languages
  • English alone accounts for nearly half of all global web content at 49.40%, setting the tone for internet communication.
  • The next three languages—Spanish, German, and Japanese—combined make up just 16.6%, highlighting the wide gap in representation.
  • Despite having a massive native-speaking population, Chinese is used in only 1.20% of websites.
  • Portuguese, spoken across several continents, represents just 3.80% of internet content.
  • Even major European languages like French and Russian contribute less than 5% each to global web content.
Chat and messaging apps have the highest global internet user engagement at 94.5% as of Q3 2024
  • Chat and Messaging apps lead globally, engaging 94.5% of internet users as of Q3 2024.
  • Social Networks follow closely behind at 94.4%, nearly matching messaging apps in global user engagement.
  • Search Engines and Web Portals still see high use, engaging 82.3% of users.
  • Email services remain highly relevant, used by 75% of internet users globally.
  • Shopping, Auctions, and Classifieds apps are also prominent, used by 74.9% of users.
  • Location-based services like maps and ride-sharing apps engage 55.3%, indicating a strong but more practical use case.
  • Games remain a niche category, with only 32.6% of users engaging with gaming apps compared to much higher engagement with communication or shopping platforms.
On average, each person spends a total of 3 hours and 46 minutes on the mobile internet every day
  • With nearly four hours daily, mobile internet is the primary way people interact with content.
  • At 3 hours and 13 minutes daily, TV remains relevant but is being outpaced by mobile consumption.
  • With 2 hours and 21 minutes daily, platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X are where people spend much of their mobile time.
  • Digital press consumption (58 minutes daily) outpaces traditional print (42 minutes), signalling a continued decline in physical media.
  • Users spend 1 hour 25 minutes on music streaming, but gaming consoles only see 1 hour and 3 minutes, showing that on-the-go entertainment is preferred.
  • With podcasts at 52 minutes and radio at 51 minutes, audio content is still relevant but not as dominant as video and social media.
Southern Africa excels in mobile connectivity, boasting 183% connectivity, outpacing the rest of the world
  • Southern Africa is the global leader in mobile connectivity, with 183% mobile connections compared to its population, significantly ahead of all other regions.
  • The world’s most connected regions are outside North America and Western Europe, with Eastern Europe (144%), Eastern Asia (133%), and Southern Europe (131%) leading the charge after Southern Africa.
  • Africa is deeply divided in mobile adoption. While Southern Africa dominates, Eastern Africa (79%) and Middle Africa (66%) have a lower penetration.
  • Some regions have more mobile connections than people. The fact that multiple regions exceed 100% connectivity means that many individuals own multiple SIM cards, a trend driven by business needs, mobile money, and telecom competition.
  • Western Africa, at 85% connectivity, is doing better than Eastern Africa but still lags behind the global average, signaling potential for more growth in mobile adoption.
Only 2.2% of internet users worldwide do not own a smartphone device
  • Smartphones are nearly universal, with only 2.2% of internet users worldwide not owning one.
  • Laptop and desktop ownership (58.3%) lags behind smartphones, reinforcing the shift toward mobile-first usage for internet access.
  • Smart TVs (48.2%) are closing in on traditional computing devices, showing how entertainment consumption is increasingly digital and on-demand.
  • Wearables are rising, with smartwatches (25.8%) and smart wristbands (12.9%) becoming more mainstream, signalling a growing appetite for health and fitness tracking.
  • Gaming consoles (18.9%) and smart home devices (17.4%) have niched but steady adoption, appealing to entertainment and home automation enthusiasts.
  • Virtual Reality (VR) remains a specialty product, with just 4.7% ownership.
  • For businesses, the mobile-first reality is non-negotiable —any service, product, or content must prioritise accessibility via smartphones to reach the widest audience.
YouTube's revenue from adverts surged by more than 400% from 2017 to 2024.
- YouTube generated $7B in ad revenue in 2017, which jumped to $11B in 2018, an approximate 57% increase in just one year.
- By 2019, revenue reached $15B, reflecting steady growth as digital ad spending increased.
- Between 2020 and 2021, revenues leaped from $20B to $29B, marking a remarkable 45% year-over-year increase.
- Despite a plateau at $29B in 2022, revenue rebounded to $32B in 2023 and climbed to $36B by 2024.
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