In September, big topics concerning sport and technology were popular on Google and Facebook, similar to What’s Trending – September 2015. Other popular topics involved music and celebrities.

The highly publicised murder of American child pageant star JonBenét Ramsey made its way back into the public consciousness in September as true crime series The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey – What Really Happened? aired on Channel 9. The case has been in the public eye since 1996, when the bizarre details of the unsolved case intrigued the world. As search volume reached a peak on 20 September, Googlers got their private investigator skills on and searched for more details on the case, including finding out more about family members Patsy, John and Burke. ‘JonBenét Ramsey Reddit’ became a popular search term, where Internet users indulged their theories on the case.

The AFL and NRL Grand Finals were front of mind for Australians on Facebook, particularly men, during September. Both historic sporting occasions, the AFL Grand Final saw the Western Bulldogs make their first Grand Final since 1961, which they went on to win against the Sydney Swans. Talk of the NRL Grand Final was also popular on Facebook, as the Melbourne Storm and the Cronulla Sharks went head to head – with the Sharks taking out their first premiership in the club’s history.

Daylight savings kicked off in early October, falling on the Labour Day long weekend for lucky folk in NSW, ACT, SA and QLD, and the highly anticipated AFL and NRL Grand Finals. In September, interest grew on Google especially amongst the affected regions that were to turn their clocks forward an hour come 2 October, with Tasmania showing the most interest in the event.

Women on Facebook showed massive interest in the Flight Facilities performance with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, which was held on 10 September at The Domain in Sydney. The one-off event blended the electro music of Flight Facilities with the masterful orchestral sounds of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra to create a unique spectacle, which was captured in parts by Australians sharing photos of the event on Facebook.

One of the highlights of the AFL sporting calendar is the Brownlow Medal award ceremony, held five days prior to the AFL Grand Final. The trophy is awarded to the fairest and best player during the season. Searches spiked on 26 September, the night of the award ceremony, with most search volume coming from Melbourne. Geelong Football Club player Patrick Dangerfield took out the Brownlow Medal for 2016 with a record 35 votes.

Facebook users of all ages took the time to take a look back and appreciate their Dads on 4 September. Father’s Day was a trending topic amongst both men and women, and Australians shared treasured photos and memories of their fathers and grandfathers with their Facebook friends on the day.

Released on 7 September, Apple’s latest iPhone offering was a very hot topic on Google last month. With features like splash and water-resistance and a new 12-megapixel camera, it got the attention of Googlers all over Australia. But perhaps the most talked-about feature was the introduction of AirPods – cordless earphones – and the lack of headphone jack available on the phone. But this isn’t the only curiosity associated with the device – ‘iPhone 7 explode’ was another rising related search term on Google. However, most people were concerned with getting their hands on the phone and dressing it up how they liked – ‘iPhone 7 preorder’, ‘iPhone 7 deals’ and ‘iPhone 7 cases’ were some of the most popular related search queries.

Tributes to the much-loved Australian crocodile hunter Steve Irwin popped up on Facebook from Australian men and women. 4 September – Father’s Day – marked the 10-year anniversary of the iconic wildlife expert’s death, and photos and stories on Steve Irwin were scattered across Facebook on the day to commemorate his life.

The announcement of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s divorce had Australians tapping away on Google for news and information on the shock split, with searches peaking on 21 September. Tasmanians and people in the ACT and WA were the keenest for updates on the goss. As luck (or great viral marketing) would have it, the trailer for Brad Pitt’s latest film Allied alongside Marion Cotillard was released on the same day the news broke, sparking rumours of a possible infidelity causing the break up. The hysteria over the whole saga had Australians searching Google for related queries like ‘Brad Pitt dead’ and ‘Jennifer Aniston meme’.

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