Four periods of elevated search activity across categories and regions emerged in 2014
Proportion of all Google searches that contain Flint water crisis-related terms for each category within each geographic area
Public health in Flint
Contaminants in Michigan
News about the water crisis in Flint and Michigan
Larger proportion of searches
Flint
Michigan
Apr 25
Flint switches from Detroit to Flint River for tap water
Aug 12
Boil water advisory issued
Sep 5
Flint city issues another boil water advisory
Oct 13
GM stops using Flint River water
High point
High point
High point
Smaller proportion of searches
High point
Months
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
2014
2015
2016
2014
2015
2016
2014
2015
2016
Note: For details on search topic definitions and sampling, see the Methodology.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of Google Health API data for Jan. 5, 2014–July 2, 2016.
“Searching for News: The Flint Water Crisis”
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Four periods of elevated search activity across categories and regions emerged in 2014
Proportion of all Google searches that contain Flint water crisis-related terms for each category within each geographic area
Larger proportion of searches
News about the water crisis in Flint and Michigan
Apr 25
Flint switches from Detroit to Flint River for tap water
Aug 12
Boil water advisory issued
High point
High point
Smaller proportion of searches
Flint
Michigan
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Months
2014
2015
2016
Larger proportion of searches
Public health in Flint
Sep 5
Flint city issues another boil water advisory
High point
Smaller proportion of searches
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Months
2014
2015
2016
Contaminants in Michigan
Larger proportion of searches
Oct 13
GM stops using Flint River water
Smaller proportion of searches
High point
Months
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
2014
2015
2016
Note: For details on search topic definitions and sampling, see the Methodology.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of Google Health API data for Jan. 5, 2014–July 2, 2016.
“Searching for News: The Flint Water Crisis”
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Four periods of elevated search activity across categories and regions emerged in 2014
Proportion of all Google searches that contain Flint water crisis-related terms for each category within each geographic area
News about the water crisis in Flint and Michigan
Larger proportion of searches
Flint
Michigan
Apr 25
Flint switches from Detroit to Flint River for tap water
Aug 12
Boil water advisory issued
High pt.
High pt.
Smaller proportion of searches
2014
2015
2016
Public health in Flint
Larger proportion of searches
Sep 5
Flint city issues another boil water advisory
High pt.
Smaller proportion of searches
2014
2015
2016
Contaminants in Michigan
Larger proportion of searches
Oct 13
GM stops using Flint River water
Smaller proportion of searches
High pt.
2014
2015
2016
Note: For details on search topic definitions and sampling, see the Methodology.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of Google Health API data for Jan. 5, 2014–July 2, 2016.
“Searching for News: The Flint Water Crisis”
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
