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
HTML code to embed chart
Want a bespoke report?
Reach out
Click to copy HTML embed code
Tags
Related Insights
South Africa leads as Africa’s digitally delivered services exports hit $41.3 billion in 2024, less than 1 percent of the world total
  • Africa exported $41.3 billion in digital services in 2024, less than 1 percent of the world total.
  • South Africa was the continent’s top exporter with $7.05 billion.
  • Morocco ($6.74 billion) and Ghana ($5.18 billion) followed closely.
  • Egypt ($4.03 billion) and Mauritius ($3.53 billion) also ranked among the top five.
  • The top five countries together made up about two-thirds of Africa’s exports.
For every $1 Nigeria earned from exporting digital services between 2005 and 2024, it spent almost $10 on imports
  • Nigeria exported $10.81 billion in digital services between 2005 and 2024.
  • Imports during the same period reached $105.34 billion.
  • The result was a trade deficit of $94.53 billion over 20 years.
  • Exports rose from just $40 million in 2005 to $1.55 billion in 2024.
  • Imports were almost ten times larger than exports, showing a persistent imbalance.
South Africa dominates Africa’s data centre scene with a total of 320 Mega watts capacity across two data centres
  • Teraco in South Africa is Africa’s largest data centre with 200 MW capacity.
  • Nigeria follows with a combined 110 MW from Rack Centre and MainOne.
  • Kenya leads East Africa with a 50 MW facility by Liquid Intelligent Technologies.
  • Morocco’s 40 MW Maroc Datacenter tops North Africa.
Only 16 African countries have launched national AI strategies as of July 2025
  • Just 16 out of 54 African countries have launched a national AI strategy.
  • Over 30 countries remain at the early or inactive stage with no clear roadmap.
  • Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is still drafting its AI policy.
  • Leaders include Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, Algeria, Rwanda, and Senegal.
  • Most low-income and post-conflict states like Chad, Somalia, and South Sudan are far behind.
Meta earns $16.6B profit as Q1 2025 revenue hits $42.3B, over 3× Q1 2018, with half from outside the U.S., Europe & Asia-Pacific.
  • Meta’s revenue reached $42.3B in Q1 2025, more than triple its Q1 2018 revenue, marking a steep and sustained growth curve.
  • Net income surged to $16.6B, its highest in a first quarter, reflecting efficient cost structures and monetisation strategies.
  • The U.S. alone contributed 26.1% of this revenue, followed by Asia Pacific (15.8%) and Europe (7.4%).
  • The “Rest of the World” brought in over 50% of Meta’s total revenue, highlighting a growing influence from emerging markets, including Africa.
The United States of America hosts over 3,700 data centres, 8× more than any other country as of May 2025
  • The U.S. dominates globally with 3,757 data centers, more than 8× any other country in the top 10.
  • Germany and the U.K. follow distantly with 443 and 428 data centres, respectively.
  • No African country makes the top 10, emphasising the infrastructure gap.
  • Africa's top three show modest but notable progress: South Africa ranks 36th (49 data centres), Kenya 54th (18), and Nigeria 56th (16).
POPULAR TOPICS
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Get periodic updates about the African startup space, access to our reports, among others.
Subscribe Here
Subscription Form
A product of Techpoint Africa. All rights reserved