Google on Election Day: People Are Voting for Free Chicken and Ice Cream
The official Google blog just posted some interesting data about hot search trends early in election day and while there are a lot of important questions being asked by millions of people - several of the hottest queries are about getting free chicken, ice cream and coffee as a reward for voting.
Starbucks, Chikfila and Ben and Jerry's are all doing election-day giveaways and apparently those are among Americans' top priorities. Let's keep that in mind when the press reports on record turnout!
There are a lot of serious questions being asked about exit polls, when the results will be known, how the electoral college works and how to confirm that you'll be able to vote. Google also disclosed the hottest search trends over the last few months of election season, though, and we couldn't help but marvel that Tina Fey is the 4th most searched-for "political personality." She even beat out Joe Biden.
Last month during the Presidential debates we wrote about the way that Google is changing political elections unlike anything else ever has. The ability to fact check, research in depth and learn more quickly about topics on the fly, during Presidential debates, is really world-changing.
Sometimes it's good to zoom out a bit, though, and remind ourselves on this huge day in history: what the people want is chicken, ice cream and coffee. You can see the full list of today's fastest rising search queries here.
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The only thing people love more than voting and debating politics is getting free stuff for voting and debating politics!: http://thefutureofads.com/2008/11/04/america-loves-free-stuff/
Posted by: Cory O'Brien | November 4, 2008 10:06 AM
This proved that google take cares of people interests and help them in guiding them to get benifit of voting power.
Posted by: junaid | November 4, 2008 10:17 AM
The problem with democracy is that every idiot gets to vote. Even if they only want ice-cream and vote for the last person thay saw on the news before they left the house.
As a non-american watching the furor and hoopla in almost disbelief, I am reassured by that fact that, despite what I see on Fox, almost every American I've met has been well read and informed on current events - even if they had different views to me.
Having said that, I've mostly met them while travelling Europe and Asia and have therefore met a cross section of the ones with passports. And I've never been to landlocked state on my travels to America.
Cynicism aside, I have every faith that there are enough clever, decent Americans to make the right choice. I hope so as this affects everyone. Imagine how different the last eight years could have been if George Bush didn't had got (or stolen) a few less votes in Florida.
Posted by: Gez | November 4, 2008 10:36 AM
Give me a break. Let's say you've already voted. Somebody tells you you can get free ice cream. "Oh, how do I get my free ice cream? Let's look it up on Google!"
This is actually a great sign for democracy: isn't it better that they're trying to find out where to get their free food than where they should vote or who they should vote for?
Posted by: Dan Blaker | November 4, 2008 11:36 AM
I can't imagine that many people are standing in line to cash in on a chicken sandwich or ice cream. But then, I'm an optimist.
What people want is to vote...the ice cream is just, well...dessert.
Posted by: bender | November 4, 2008 11:42 AM
Celebration time - Obama finally did it ! Best luck :)
Hope Ice-Cream lines will cut off now
Posted by: Web Design
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November 4, 2008 10:59 PM
I am a registered republican-I am so sick of hearing how bad and low on our reviews of George Bush are. People tend to forget that Bush came into office in the worst of circumstances-Clinton should have been paying attention to the illegal immigrants he was allowing into our country and to foreign policy-why didn't Clinton take care of Sadam before we had to lose so many lives and our beloved towers. He was too busy playing with women in the white house. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were established under Clinton's administration as well-the state of our economy and foreign policy is on his head-Not Bush!!!! Clinton allowed the assholes in our country that killed our citizens-where does the blame lie on him. Bush came into office-our country was attacked-Katrina, Wall Street collapse-the war that Bush started to defend our country is not bullying-he is standing up for our country-remember-they attacked first!!!!!! Bush couldn't have had any worse circumstances happen under his administration-how unfair for him-no other president has had it as bad as Bush. Bush also had a more democrats in Congess so even if he had wanted to do things differently-it would be hard against a majority and now that Obama is in and more democrats in Congress-it will be even worse. I am a white christian woman with a great and beautiful family-I have an amazing handsome supportive husband and two gorgeous children-a boy and a baby girl-wonderful supportive, giving, caring, loving parents who blessed me with a wonderful life as I intend to do for my children. I taught high school but have chosen to be a stay-at-home mommy to my son and now my daughter-my son attends the same wonderful school and teachers who taught me-my parents were wonderful role models and heroes to me as I hope to be for my children and the students I teach. Life is precious and great and I have a great loving family to spend it with.
Obama is bi-racial-I am sick of it not being mentioned or stated. He obtained the democratic votes because they wanted a Republican that stands for morals and values out. It didn't matter whether the person was black, white or a woman-as long a democrat got into office. This election is no different than others-a democrat was put into office regardless of his race. I am appalled at the notion it is a major thing when its just because a democrat was wanted in office after 8 years of a republican holding office. The black people who never voted was prodded and pushed and signed up in waves by Obama and his supporters-even Christian blacks who I thought had a conscience voted for him. Just because he is bi-racial-most don't even know what he stands for and could care less as well as some of the young voters out of high school-actors, media, talk show hosts can bring a lot of peer pressure. That is the difference in the white communities-we look at what is the issues-we don't vote just because our candidate is white unlike all the blacks in this election. Obama and his supporters were over the top in getting blacks who never cared to cast a vote when all candidates were white-all of a sudden they cared and I am still uncertain about some of the votes anyway. Obama knows if something illegal was done and he will pay for those sins as well as his supporters. Obama is not the first black president- he is the first bi-racial president and that is why he got some of his white votes-do not be deceived otherwise. The blacks do not want to acknowledge his white roots but they are there-like it or not. According to my math-he is 50 percent caucasian-that needs to be stated as well as his african side. I am sick, angry and disgusted at the attention this seems to be getting-I like a lot of other people am not impressed but worried about our future under this deceiving type of man. It is important to remember he was raised by his all white side of the family and therefore speaks eloquently because of that in my opinion. The obvious needs to be stated by our media instead of skirting around the issue-he is bi-racial and should be called that-not african-not white----bi-racial.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Crystal | November 6, 2008 5:40 PM