There are two kinds of Google searches: the ones that answer practical questions ("how to move to Canada"), and the ones that answer questions you're too embarrassed to ask another person, thereby admitting you don't already know the answer ("how to boil water").
The top "how to" searches usually fall in both camps, and this year was no different. Google's year in review, released today, shows an emphasis on the election, which was to be expected, as well as some very unexpected social phenomena. While there's no "how to hit the quan" or "how to play Charlie Charlie," both of which made 2015's top 10, you will see the appearance of one viral game on this year's list. One search we're surprised didn't make the list: "How to avoid GoT spoilers."
Click through to count down to the most searched for "how tos" of 2016. And if you don't know the answers to any of these, know that this year, you weren't alone.
10. How To Use Snapchat Filters
I would be willing to bet that almost 99. 99% of these searches came from parents.
Photo: Courtesy of Google.
9. How To Vote Early
Looks like these searches paid off. According to The New York Times, over 22 million Americans had already voted a full eight days before U.S. Election Day.
Photo: Courtesy of Google.
8. How To Catch Pokémon Go
The insanely brief phenomenon will live on in Google search history.
Photo: Courtesy of Google.
7. How To Appear Funny
This one feels a little out of place, but hey, we could all use a little more laughter in 2016. Just look to the viral Target guy for inspiration.
Photo: Courtesy of Google.
6. How To battle In Pokémon Go
And the Pokémon machine rages on. For the record, fights consist of furiously tapping your screen (i.e. looking like a crazy person in public).
Photo: Courtesy of Google.
5. How To Move To Canada
U.S. election fears left many Americans yearning for the land of Justin Trudeau and maple leaves. Unfortunately, on Election Day and the day after, Canada's Immigration and Citizenship website was so overloaded with search traffic that it crashed for hours.
Photo: Courtesy of Google.
4. How To Make Slime
Another strange search, but Instagram might be to blame for this one. BuzzFeed reported that videos of "slimers" making and sticking their hands in slime went viral in June.
Photo: Courtesy of Google.
3. How To Play Powerball
What happens when there is the biggest lottery jackpot in the world? People search for how to win it. In January, three lucky people split the $1.5 billion (£1.2 billion) pot.
Photo: Courtesy of Google.
2. How To Register To Vote
In a U.S. election year, this seems like a given.
Photo: Courtesy of Google.
1. How To Play Pokémon Go
Pokémon Go certainly wasn't the most important moment of 2016, but its overnight success was a reminder that every once in a while, we all want to feel like kids again.
Photo: Courtesy of Google.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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