Google results ... Robin Williams’ shocking suicide, the mystery of MH370 and the celebrity nude photo scandal had people turning to Google. Picture: AP Photo/Jens Meyer Source: AP

“The passing of beloved comedian and actor Robin Williams shook the world, bringing many people online to search for more information and to remember, and putting Williams in the #1 spot on our global trends charts,” said Google’s vice-president of search Amit Singhal.

“There was even an uptick in searches related to depression tests and mental health in the days following his death.”

Beloved star ... Robin Williams’s suicide lead to an increase in people searching for information about depression, Google says. Source: AP

In the first few days after his suicide, there was a sixfold increase in the number of Google searches for “carpe diem” — a Latin phrase for “seize the day” that Williams popularised in the film “Dead Poets Society.”

Reports about Williams’ long-running battle with depression caused searches for that term to triple.

There was also a flurry of searches about his movies (the top five were: Mrs. Doubtfire, Dead Poets Society, Good Will Hunting, Jumanji and Patch Adams.”)

Williams, known for high-energy, rapid-fire improvisation and clowning, was found dead on August 11 at his home in Marin County, north of San Francisco.

An Oscar winner and veteran of movies, stand-up shows and hit television series, he was one of Hollywood’s most popular entertainers and his death triggered an outpouring of emotion the world over.

The World Cup was the second-hottest search trending on Google in 2014.

World Cup ... Brazilian football fans cheer as the opposite stand is reflected in a glass fence during a match between Brazil and Croatia. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

“From Luis Suarez’s bite heard around the world, to Tim Howard’s superman performance versus Belgium, to Germany’s incredible run to their fourth title, the competition certainly lived up to its reputation and topped the charts,” Google said.

The deadly Ebola epidemic and tragedy-struck Malaysia Airlines were the third and fourth most-popular search topics.

They were followed by the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge” fad of people dousing themselves in icy water to raise money to battle Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Epidemic ... Awoman reacts after learning her husband has died from Ebola in the Liberian capital Monrovia. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

Williams, Ebola, the World Cup and the Ice Bucket also ranked among the most-discussed subjects this year on Facebook, which released its list last week.

The remainder of the top 10 Google search trends for 2014 were addictive mobile game Flappy Bird, transgender Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst, the terrorist group Islamic State, the mega-hit Disney cartoon Frozen and the Sochi Winter Olympics.

Apple’s new iPhone 6 was the top consumer electronics gadget search trend, while Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence was the top query trend focused on a person.

Search queen ... Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence, who was the victim of a nude photo hack, was the most-Googled individual celebrity. Picture: Lionsgate Source: AP

Nude photos of the Oscar-winner and a trove of other female celebrities were hacked and posted online in September. Several of the nude hacking scandal victims are threatening to sue Google for failing to take down the hacked images, which Lawrence has called a sex crime.

J. Law proved more popular in search terms than Kim Kardashian, despite her high-profile wedding to rapper Kanye West and her promise to “break the internet” with her now-infamous naked cover for Paper magazine.

TOP SEARCHES WORLDWIDE

1. Robin Williams

2. World Cup

3. Ebola

4. Malaysia Airlines

5. Ice Bucket Challenge

6. Flappy Bird

7. Conchita Wurst

8. Islamic State

9. Frozen

10. Sochi Olympics

* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.