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Current Events and Celebrities Dominate User Searches Overall
OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Ask Jeeves, Inc. today released the list of 2005's most popular search queries on Ask Jeeves (http://www.ask.com/). Ranging from the war in Iraq to Lindsay Lohan, Ask Jeeves users searched for pop culture icons, the latest in movies, and information on diseases and natural disasters. 2005 was also the year of the up-and-coming stars of music, television and the big screen, as two of the biggest stars in years past, Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears, fell out of the top ten on the celebrity chart.
Top News Searches
Ask Jeeves users searched both locally and globally in 2005, and President Bush and Iraq topped the list of most popular news searches. The tsunami in Asia and Hurricane Katrina also ranked high as people sought information on the devastating effects of each natural disaster and how to help those in need. Celebrity news was also on top of the list -- users searched for news on Michael Jackson's trial and Britney Spears' new baby.
The complete top 10 list of Ask Jeeves news searches:
1. President Bush 6. Britney Spears
2. Iraq 7. Natalee Holloway
3. Hurricane Katrina 8. American Idol
4. Tsunami 9. Xbox 360
5. Michael Jackson 10. Angelina Jolie
Top Celebrity Searches
2005 was the year of the celebrity -- whether they were breaking up (Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt), making up (Sienna Miller and Jude Law) or having babies (Britney Spears and Kevin Federline; Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck). It was also the year that young stars eclipsed the old, according to Ask Jeeves searches. Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan are numbers two and three respectively on Ask Jeeves list of top celebrity searches and Jesse McCartney graces the list for his first time, while Britney Spears fell to number 12.
The complete top 10 list of Ask Jeeves celebrity searches:
1. Usher 6. Jesse McCartney
2. Hilary Duff 7. Orlando Bloom
3. Lindsay Lohan 8. 50 Cent
4. Eminem 9. Beyonce
5. Nelly 10. Paris Hilton
Top Picture Searches
Americans can't get enough of Lindsay and Hilary -- both teen queens also crowned the top photos list. Users also couldn't get enough of pictures of R&B crooner Usher, but photos of 50 Cent? Eminem? We still don't get it. And what photo searches rounded out the list? Cars.
The complete list of top 10 Ask Jeeves photo searches:
1. Lindsay Lohan 6. Christina Aguilera
2. Usher 7. Eminem
3. Hilary Duff 8. Paris Hilton
4. 50 Cent 9. Jesse McCartney
5. Britney Spears 10. Cars
Top Health Searches
Fears of a bird flu pandemic, AIDS in Africa and the Vioxx scandal sparked Ask Jeeves users' concern, which in turn increased the number of health queries in 2005. Users searched for more information on specific diseases and symptoms of those diseases, as well as ways to stay healthy during the year.
The complete list of top 10 Ask Jeeves health searches:
1. Pregnancy 6. Vioxx
2. Diabetes 7. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
3. Anorexia 8. Depression
4. Bird Flu 9. Cancer
5. AIDS 10. Smoking
Top Entertainment Searches
2005 was the year of the big return (Mariah Carey), the big beginning (Batman Returns) and the big finale (Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith). Vin Diesel is so hot that even when he goes soft (The Pacifier) he makes it into the top movie category. While the box office may be having a rough year overall, and downloading has affected the record industry, searches for music and movies have remained hot throughout the year.
The complete list of top five music and movie searches:
Music Movies
1. Usher 1. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of
the Sith
2. Mariah Carey 2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of
Fire
3. 50 Cent 3. The Pacifier
4. Hilary Duff 4. Batman Begins
5. Eminem 5. Madagascar
Top Sports Searches
Ask Jeeves' sports fanatics searched for their favorite NFL, NBA and MLB teams, but users were also interested in some alternative sports; top searches included Lance Armstrong and the Tour de France, as well as skateboarding legend Tony Hawk.
The complete list of top ten Ask Jeeves sport searches:
1. NFL 6. Soccer
2. NBA 7. NASCAR
3. Tour de France 8. Tiger Woods
4. Allen Iverson 9. MLB
5. Lance Armstrong 10. Tony Hawk
About Ask Jeeves, Inc.
As the 7th largest global web property (ComScore Media Metrix, October 2005), Ask Jeeves, Inc. delivers world-class information retrieval products through a diverse portfolio of Web sites, portals and downloadable applications. Ask Jeeves' search and search-based portal brands include: Ask Jeeves (Ask.com, Ask.co.uk and Ask.es), the Ask Jeeves Japan joint venture (Ask.jp), Ask Jeeves Kids (AJKids.com), Bloglines (bloglines.com), Excite (excite.com), iWon (iwon.com), My Way (myway.com) and Fun Web Products (funwebproducts.com). Additionally, Ask Jeeves owns differentiated search technology, as well as natural language processing, portal and ad-serving technologies. Ask Jeeves generates revenue from advertisers seeking to reach the company's broad-based online audience. Founded in 1996, Ask Jeeves became a wholly-owned business of IAC/InterActiveCorp in July, 2005. Its headquarters are located in Oakland, California, with offices throughout the United States, as well as in Europe and Asia.
CONTACT: Denise Welch of Dotted Line Communications, +1-617-269-5969, Denise@dottedlinecomm.com, for Ask Jeeves, Inc.
Web site: http://www.ask.com/
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