Google Trends: DNC more popular than RNC, toilet paper and hand sanitizer not so precious anymore
Google Trends data reveals that the Democratic National Convention was searched more than the Republican National Convention while searches for toilet paper and hand sanitizer decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Jose Vidales
DNC dominates RNC
According to an analysis of Google search data, there were more searches for the DNC than there were for the RNC. The analysis consisted of the average number of searches done on each event nationwide. The chart below shows the tremendous spike the DNC had over the RNC around their respective starting dates.
Given that this is an election year, a very intriguing one to say the least, there was great anticipation for the DNC and RNC. Many were eager to either watch it live, or just get a quick recap. As it turns out, one side of the political spectrum was getting most of the attention than the other.
Is this sign of popularity good or bad? Is it an indicator for this year’s election?Who knows? There could be a number of reasons why the DNC was searched more by Americans. However, one thing is certain, the numbers do not lie. The DNC clearly gets the title for most popular in the Google Trends section of the competition.
Toilet paper and hand sanitizer back to normal
As COVID-19 started making its way in and around the United States, many flocked to the stores to stock up on the bare essentials during a pandemic: toilet paper and hand sanitizer. However, as time passed, they went from being in high demand to lowly household items that one would purchase on their usual grocery run.
According to an analysis of Google search data, the number of searches for toilet paper and hand sanitizer nationwide has gone down as time passed during this pandemic. As seen in the chart above, searches spiked when word of COVID-19 first broke out and there was a sudden need to stock up for this crisis. A few months later, the numbers show that we are back to normal.
When COVID-19 became mainstream, people needed toilet paper and hand sanitizer; hand sanitizer to kill the germs and toilet paper, well, to take care of business (we aren’t barbarians anymore). However, COVID-19 seems to be less scary now and has actually become a nuisance to some. Thus, toilet paper and hand sanitizer are no longer being treated as gold anymore.
