Google Trends and Trend Analysis of Online Behaviour During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Saudi Arabian Experience

Mental health condition was greatly affected by COVID-19 Pandemic through various social distancing measures implemented to counter its spread. Netizens were all abuzz on personal issues like anxiety, depression, and even panic. This study aimed to determine the COVID -19 Pandemic’s effect on mental health as reflected through manifested online behaviors. Data were collected through the Google Trends using specific search terms, and official government health data. These were analyzed using trends analysis. Results showed three instances of actual COVID -19 case spiked increases that showed influence to Saudi residents as reflected on their online reactions. Prevailing behaviors were reflected in their actual search term inputs, and presented adaptation despite the unpredictable rise and fall of actual COVID -19 cases in the kingdom. Thus, search trending data can be an alternative in looking for behavioral patterns as impact measures to social and health events like the COVID- 19 Pandemic.