Detecting Global-Scale Cultural Trends Through Word-of-Mouth

This study explores how online search queries, as captured by Google Trends, can reveal and quantify cultural trends across different regions. It demonstrates that the volume of searches for specific terms reflects the intensity of interest in those topics, providing insights into how cultural phenomena spread and evolve globally. The research utilizes word-of-mouth models to analyze the propagation of trends, showing the potential of search data for understanding and predicting cultural dynamics.