As 2021 draws to a close, Google has published the list of trending queries of different countries, including Iran.
Available on Trends.google.com, the report can be modified to show what grabbed the attention of Iranian internet-surfers in a year marked by people’s concerns about Covid-19 vaccination and their children’s online education.
The report is divided into two parts: the most searched words and top trending terms. Some of the searches pertain to the same topic, but were worded differently.
The top seven trending searches of Iranians respectively were: PADA (Student’s Electronic Files system), Covid-19 vaccine registration, calendar of current Iranian year (started March 21), Pada.medu.ir, PADA system, SIDA (Integrated Student’s System) and Nobitex login (a website for trading cryptocurrencies).
In Persian script, four words, namely music, movie, Music (written differently in Persian) and Divar (local online sales service) respectively were the most searched terms on Google, followed by car, fun, cartoon, Google and gold price.
While many Iranians rely on social media platforms like Telegram, Instagram or WhatsApp for news, some turned to Google for answers.
Trending Queries
PADA, PADA System and Pada.medu.ir: PADA system is a website that contains students’ electronic educational files, which is affiliated with the Education Ministry. Through this particular website, parents can register their children in schools, request a change in their current school and also check their results and grades online. According to the statistics, three out of seven trending queries belonged to this system. The main reasons behind the rise in searches and the use of this website pertained to classes and exams held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Most school and university students are attending their classes online, in addition to doing most of the related paper works and essential activities. Parents and students can easily use these systems, instead of going to the related educational facilities personally.
Covid-19 Vaccine Registration: During 2021, one of the main concerns of families revolved around coronavirus vaccination, not only because they care about their own safety, but because the government started to restrict and limit the unvaccinated population’s activities. For instance, without the vaccination card that indicates whether an individual has received both doses of Covid-19 vaccine, people are unable to travel and face problems in domestic or foreign trips. The government is expanding the restrictions for unvaccinated people to encourage them to get vaccinated and also to control and lower the Covid-19 transmission and fatalities.
Three out of seven trending queries belonged to PADA (Student’s Electronic Files system), which indicates the importance of this online service among Iranian users
Calendar of Current Iranian Year: The current Iranian year started on March 21. People were searching for the year’s calendar online, mainly to be informed about the official holidays, special events or simply to know the date. In general, people usually use pocket or paper calendars, but due to the pandemic, it is safer to check the date online and avoid the unnecessary travel.
SIDA: SIDA is an Integrated Student’s System, affiliated with the Education Ministry, similar to PADA, but mainly dedicated to student’s grades and results. This website is usually used by teachers and principals to check students’ educational status and performance, and for updating or entering new information. However, students and their parents can also enter this system to check the grades and results. In general, systems like SIDA and PADA are becoming more popular as the educational activities are mainly online and the ministry is providing services via these websites and other similar systems.
Nobitex Login: With the rise in cryptocurrency exchanges and people’s awareness about the new currencies, people’s interest about this topic is increasing. The Persian phrase trending regarding cryptocurrency is Nobitex Login, an online cryptocurrency exchanger. According to Google, people are using this very website to buy, sell or simply learn about cryptocurrencies.
Currently, the most popular currency exchange service in Iran is Nobitex that has the largest number of users and transactions conducted both in rials and with Tetra currency pairs, according to Bourse News.
The Trends report can be modified to check what people searched for on Google’s news tab. Some of the other topics and keywords that trended online were related to the National Housing Initiative, marriage loan in the fiscal 2021-22 and Iranian presidential election.
