Global search giants Google and China-dominant Baidu recently revealed what phrases users searched most in 2016.
Some were predictable. Some surprised. But all offered a glimpse into the similarities and differences in global and Chinese user trends.
Despite being blocked in China since 2010, Google's "Year in Search," released Wednesday, showed some overlap with Baidu's year-end list (released December 2) with terms "Olympics" and Disney's animated hit "Zootopia."
Chinese also shared interest in the U.S. presidential election."Donald Trump" and "Hillary Clinton" listed fifth and ninth among the top "People in Focus" searched on Baidu, while Trump and Hillary ranked first and second in Google's People category.
Google ranked the president-elect third overall, behind "Pokemon Go" and "iPhone 7."
As expected, many queries by Chinese users searched inward - focusing on national news such as the recent "Two-Child Policy" or "Relaxed Hukou restrictions."
Also, the Baidu lists reflected little on global news trends - the only shared international event was the Kumamoto Earthquake, ranking ninth on Baidu and tenth on Google.
Though each list was categorized differently - with Baidu focusing heavily on age groups, domestic celebrities and "civic pride," both showed the world mourned for some of the same people that passed in 2016.
"Muhammad Ali" ranked first in Baidu's "Tears events," while the boxing legend came in fifth on Google's "Losses," behind Prince, David Bowie, Christina Grimmie and Alan Rickman.
