Declining interest in Catholic web searches
June 16, 2011
Internet users around the world are less likely to search for the word “Catholic” today than they were in 2004, according to an analysis of Google data conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA).
“Searches for anything Catholic reach a low point each summer and peak in two weeks each year--weeks for Ash Wednesday and Christmas,” CARA notes. “The only outlier here is the significant increase in searches surrounding the death of Pope John Paul II and the conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI. In 2007, the search volumes dip below average for the period and have continued on a downward pace to date. The decline is linear. Americans are significantly less likely to search for anything Catholic than they were seven years ago.”
Similar declines have taken place in the UK, Australia, and Brazil, as well as in French- and German-language searches.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: msorensen71798 -
Jun. 16, 2011 11:47 PM ET USA
Maybe this is simply indicative of people having already found good sources for Catholic information (like CatholicCuture.org), and more people finding good sources via social media (such as Facebook and Twitter), resulting web searches only for those still seeking.
-
Posted by: DrJazz -
Jun. 16, 2011 11:01 AM ET USA
"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths." 2 Tim 4:3-4
