Photo: Envato Elements.
Mandela Day, the FaceApp controversy, Jacob Zuma and Johnny Clegg’s passing had everyone turning to Google for the latest updates.
Photo: Envato Elements.
It’s been an eventful month that saw larger-than-life news stories breaking this week. Of course our one-stop place is Google, and we turned to it for all the latest updates.
The FaceApp controversy generated more hits than Mandela Day, while Johnny Clegg’s passing generated to most search queries this week.Let’s dig a bit deeper into this week’s Google search queries report.
Johnny Clegg garnered more than 500 000 search queries on Tuesday. The ‘White Zulu’ of Juluka and Savuka fame was an internationally acclaimed musician who was also an important figure in the fight against apartheid.
Tributes to Clegg have been flooding media and social media over the past couple of days. Clegg succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 66.
More than 200 000 search queries were generated for Mark Batchelor on Monday after the former soccer star was brutally gunned down outside his Olivedale home in Gauteng.
Investigations into the shooting are still ongoing. Batchelor played for Orlando Pirates, Wits University, Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Moroka Swallows and Bafana Bafana.
South Africans generated more than 100 000 search queries for FaceApp. The Internet went crazy over the app, which uses artificial intelligence to create a rendering of what users might look like in a few decades.
FaceApp went viral as users posted their aged likenesses on social media in the #faceappchallenge. Privacy experts, however, warned that the app may pose a threat to users’ privacy as it stores photos on its servers.
Jacob Zuma also had his moment in the limelight again with more than 100 000 search queries on Monday as he made his first, much-anticipated appearance in front of the Zondo Commission on state capture.
He returned to the Commission again today – only to withdraw again – after a drama-filled week. TheSouthAfrican.com’s Andile Sicetsha wrote:
“Zuma’s testimony at the inquiry has been marred by delays and refusal to respond to certain questions regarding evidence that was submitted by the commission’s previous witnesses.”
South Africans observed and celebrated Mandela Day on 18 July. From celebrations hosted across the country to working towards eradicating poverty and homeless, we united for a common cause.
Over the past decade, the initiative has mobilised people and organisations to focus on education and literacy, food and nutrition, shelter, sanitation, and active citizenship.