The Brexit story in Google searches: buying gold, getting Irish passports, wondering what happened

Google Trends tells the story of the result of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union. Trending searches include a 500% spike in ‘buy gold,’ a doubling in searches on getting an Irish passport and some people apparently wondering what just happened …

With the pound diving and the Euro looking not much healthier over fears that Britain’s exit could lead to other countries following suit, this one is no surprise.

+500% spike in searches for "buy gold" in the past four hourshttps://t.co/pmMsRUcAwK

— GoogleTrends (@GoogleTrends) June 24, 2016

UK citizens who want to retain the personal benefits of EU membership, including the right to visit, live and work in any EU country, have been searching for details of how to obtain Irish citizenship. Both Ireland and Britain allow dual-citizenship to those with at least one Irish grandparent (which, happily, includes me).

+100% spike in UK searches for "getting an Irish passport" after #Brexit votehttps://t.co/qyssi0v91x pic.twitter.com/aUdHplLMaS

— GoogleTrends (@GoogleTrends) June 24, 2016

Others are looking a little further afield.

+680% spike in searches for "Move to Gibraltar" in London since polls closed #EUref https://t.co/aMkqjxXH2i pic.twitter.com/wXa1Rk7zjE

— GoogleTrends (@GoogleTrends) June 24, 2016

With UK news filled with nothing but the referendum for the past several weeks, you’d have had to have been living on Mars not to know about it – or Birmingham, it seems. Question four a top search since the polls closed.

"What is the EU referendum?" Top questions on #EUref in Birmingham since polls closed pic.twitter.com/SDvMBW1mol

— GoogleTrends (@GoogleTrends) June 24, 2016

While some appear unaware that there’s a bit of paperwork to do before the UK actually leaves the EU – including a mandatory negotiation period of two years.

"Are we in or out of the EU?" has spiked +2,450% in the UK #EURefResults https://t.co/pHHbQ1KEXC …

— GoogleTrends (@GoogleTrends) June 24, 2016

People didn’t have long to wait to find the answer to this one: the pound fell 10% on the result before recovering slightly to 8% down on the U.S. dollar.

"What if the pound collapses?" Top #EUref "what if…?" searches in Northern Ireland since first results announced pic.twitter.com/8IZnvFP6xn

— GoogleTrends (@GoogleTrends) June 24, 2016

I was following the news closely, but must confess I’m still wondering how it all happened …