The times we live in are full of horror. So you'd think horror movies were the last thing people wanted to watch during the pandemic-induced lockdown. But real life is stranger than fiction. And, in this case, Google search for "horror movies" increased --- hold your breath --- 950% in India. In a report, Google said that Indians are of course spending more time watching entertainment during this long period of lockdown. And the search for “horror movies” and “best telugu movies of 2020” exploded to 950% and 450% respectively. For those who are not new to Indian movies, Telugu movies are known to have been run away and overdone. The report, titled "What India Looks For: Brand Ideas Report," says that Indians' digital dependency has increased exponentially. The report aims to help brands understand what their target audience is browsing and understand the many implications of search trends.
Increased interest in digital transactions.
As mobility has become very limited, “near me” searches have seen a massive increase since March 2020. Queries like “pharmacy near me” (+58%), “grocery delivery near me” (+ 550%), "dukaan ration" (+300%) and "vet at my house" (+60%) have become more and more common, according to the report. The report finds people looking for answers to questions like "home gym" (+93%), "5-minute recipes" (+56%), and research related to advanced skill sets like "machine learning" (3X) and 'data science' (3X).With most users confined to their homes, queries like 'learn online' (+85%), 'teach online' (+148%) and 'home learning' " (78%) also experienced strong growth. Queries in the health category have recently become "immunity" (+500%). Searches for vitamin C, which increased 40% in 2019, have increased more than 150% in recent weeks, as are searches for medicinal herbs and Ayurvedic home remedies There is growing curiosity about cashless transactions and mobile payments in India Searches such as “QR code payment” increased by more than 66% and "How to change the UPI PIN code" increased by more than 200%.