Wall Street Journal Dissects Popular Search Terms Using AOL Data

NEW YORK — AOL’s recent security gaffe that leaked thousands of customer search terms may have created a wave of protests from politicians and privacy advocates, but for Wall Street Journal technology reporter Lee Gomes it was fodder for a recent article that revealed what people most look for online.

Sorting through about 36 million searches generated by more than 650,000 AOL users, Gomes came to one definitive conclusion: Deals dominate the Internet.

“One thing about us Internet users: We like our music, we like our pictures, we like our sex — and we like them all free,” Gomes said, adding that the word “free,” was the most popular search word, other than prepositions and conjunctions.

As for searches for sexual content, Gomes found the term “sex” ranked high on the list alongside such popular words as “music,” “map” and “pictures.”

“The web turns out to be every bit the domain of the unbounded id we always thought it was,” Gomes said. “According to a research paper about the data prepared by an AOL-led team, porn was the third most common activity of web searchers, behind entertainment and shopping. My study showed that 14 percent of all users made some form of explicit sexual search. And sex was No. 44 on the list of greatest hits words; usually, it's around 2,500 for standard usage, such as in English-language novels.”

According to Gomes, the most popular person searched for in the data was Peter Wentz, the singer for pop group Fall Out Boy. Pamela Anderson was second, followed by Paris Hilton.

While the Wall Street Journal has made its own study, others have mined the data using more sophisticated techniques. As XBIZ reported earlier, IT firm Splunk has released its seven Internet user profiles based on the AOL data.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

MojoHost Releases Statement on the Future of Adult

In the wake of Tuesday's election and amid concerns about the possible ramifications for the adult industry, MojoHost President Brad Mitchell has releases a statement addressing Project 2025 and the future of the industy.

Adult Web Hosting Service 'Midnight-Host' Launches

Midnight-Host, a new web hosting service designed specifically for adult websites, has launched.

ASN Lifestyle Magazine Joins Pineapple Support as Media Sponsor

ASN Lifestyle Magazine has joined the ranks of over 60 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support, partnering with the organization as a media sponsor.

Adult Industry Reacts to Trump Victory

On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump was reelected, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris to reclaim the office he lost four years ago.

Fetisfy Online Fetish Marketplace Launches

Fetisfy.com, an online marketplace for users to sell fetish items, has launched.

Pineapple Support Launches 'Spill the Tea, Colombia' Community Support Event Series

Pineapple Support has launched "Spill the Tea, Colombia," a monthly, in-person community support event for adult industry professionals.

Streamster Launches 'Tip2Peep' Camera-Switching Feature

Live-streaming software provider Streamster has launched Tip2Peep, a new feature that allows viewers to switch between multiple webcam viewing angles by tipping the creator.

Tyler Wu Guests on Chaturbate's 'Sex Tales' Podcast

Tyler Wu is the latest guest on Chaturbate’s “Sex Tales” podcast, hosted by Melissa Stratton and Vanniall on the company’s “Camming Life” YouTube channel.

Fleshy to Launch Interactive Cam Site 'Eromote'

Male pleasure brand Fleshy has announced that it will launch an interactive, bidirectional cam site next month called Eromote.

XBIZ LA Show Introduces New 'Crib Crawl' Feature

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the 2025 edition of its flagship conference, the XBIZ Show, will debut a brand-new feature: Crib Crawl, offering attendees the chance to meet and greet representatives from leading brands and organizations in dedicated suites at the host venue.

Show More