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Your State’s Most-Googled Relationship Question Map
Most Popular Relationship Queries
Methodology
About CenturyLinkQuote

If 2020 was the year we all stayed inside, 2021 was the year we all started to go out again. Social gatherings, family parties, and blind dates returned, forcing people to relearn how to interact with others in person. Little wonder people turned to Google to ask some of life’s most important relationship questions.

For the fourth year in a row, CenturyLinkQuote wanted to know what relationship questions each state asked the most. While last year’s report showed people asking about the best dating apps the most, this year, Americans wanted to get more intimate, and in turn, needed to know how to kiss a real person. From “how to get over a breakup” to “does he like me,” Americans across the country wanted to figure out this thing called love, so they turned to the internet for their relationship questions while likely watching their favorite rom com.

Most Popular Relationship Queries

How to kiss

For the last three years, Alaska has asked this question the most. This year, it has company—31 other states also want to learn how to lock lips. Whether it’s their first time smooching or it’s been too long since the last time, Americans wanted to learn across 32 states how to kiss. Context is critical, and knowing how to kiss in different scenarios can help you avoid awkward moments in a relationship.

How to get over a breakup

Breaking up is difficult and can take a long time to get over. 2021 was hard for many people; adding a breakup to the mix was just salt in the wound. Six states found themselves asking how to get over their former significant other the most. There isn’t a straight answer for that, but there are multiple ways you can cope with a recent split. Start with building a support system as you try to get over someone who left a significant impact on your life.

Best dating apps

Some were looking to learn how to kiss and others were trying to get over a breakup. But five states just wanted to start a relationship. So they asked Google to help them find the best dating apps out there. With over 1,500 dating apps as of 2016 (we’re sure there’s way more now), there’s no shortage of dating apps to choose from. Start with the top 10 most-searched dating apps: Tinder, Badoo, Her, OkCupid, Grindr, Bumble, eharmony, Match.com, Hinge, and Raya—you’re sure to find what you’re looking for there.

When to say “I love you”

Three little words never held so much weight. “I love you” can either make or break a relationship. That’s why four states, including New Jersey and North Carolina, wanted to know the precise time to say “I love you.” Each relationship is different, so saying those words may come at varying times. While 62% of people think you should say “I love you” as soon as you mean it, 25% say you should wait at least several months before dropping the love hammer, according to an OKCupid survey.

Methodology

To find each state’s most searched relationship question, the team at CenturyLinkQuote used Google search volume to determine which relationship questions Americans ask most. We then plugged the six most searched questions into Google Trends to see which question was googled most by each state in the past 12 months.

About CenturyLinkQuote

CenturyLinkQuote is an authorized sales agent of Centurylink products.For media inquiries, please contact media@centurylinkquote.com.

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• Your State’s Most Searched 2000s Rom-Com
• Interesting Findings
• Methodology
• About CenturyLinkQuote

Some of the best rom-coms of the 2000s—especially the early 2000s—still sneak into pop culture today. Just last November, Ariana Grande wore Jennifer Garner’s 13 Going on 30 dress on the set of The Voice, and the third installment of Legally Blonde premieres later this year.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, new rom-coms are about to hit theaters—but you always have the option to curl up with a nostalgic 2000s rom-com on TV instead. Will you be watching the same one your state’s been googling all year?

Interesting Findings

• Serendipity is the most popular 2000s rom-com nationwide, with 18 states googling it most last year. Those states included New Jersey and California, two of the states where the movie was filmed.

• Although 13 Going on 30 tied with Sweet Home Alabama for the lowest IMDb score on our list at 6.2/10, it’s the most searched movie in 7 states.
  • The film became one of the five most-rented DVDs in 2004 when it was released. 
  • The soundtrack also charted in the top 50 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
• The Holiday topped the search results in 6 states. The film, which has been called a modern Christmas classic, has won two awards: the International Film Music Critics Award and the Teen Choice Awards.
• Love Actually is the most searched rom-com in 5 states. 
  • The London-based Christmas film has the highest IMDb score of any movie on our list, at 7.6/10. 
  • The film was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture and won 10 awards including the 2004 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award.
• Although Enchanted is by far the highest grossing film on our list, earning $340 million at the box office, it was only searched most in New York, where the film takes place. 
  • Good news for Enchanted fans—a sequel called Disenchanted premieres on Disney+ in the fall of 2022.

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Methodology

First, we compiled a list of the 70 most popular 2000s rom-coms based on data gathered from IMDb, Cosmopolitan, ScreenRant, and Ranker, limiting our results to films with an IMDb score of 6.2/10 or higher. 

We then collected each movie’s search volume in SEMrush, narrowed the list to the top 11, and used Google Trends to find the movie each state googled most in the past 12 months.

About CenturyLinkQuote

CenturyLinkQuote is an authorized sales agent of CenturyLink products. For media inquiries, please contact media@centurylinkquote.com.

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• Your State’s Most Searched Anime
• Interesting Findings
• Methodology
• About CenturyLinkQuote

Monkey D. Luffy. Roronoa Zoro. Sanji. If any of these names ring a bell, you probably live in one of the 25 states that searched for the anime ONE PIECE the most. Or maybe you fall within the 44% of 18–29 years olds that have a favorable opinion of anime movies. Either way, anime continues to gain popularity consistently, with many Americans growing up watching household favorites such as Dragon Ball Z, Pokémon, or Naruto. 

There are multiple ways to watch the latest anime, from streaming services like Netflix and Crunchyroll, to late-night television on Cartoon Network. The people at CenturyLinkQuote specifically wondered which states searched which anime series the most. And while (SPOILER ALERT) ONE PIECE had the most search volume across the country by a mile, there were other anime series that had the rest of the country searching for more.

Interesting Findings

• Although the ONE PIECE series came out back in 1999, it still managed to be on the minds of half the country from 2020–2021, with half the country’s states searching for it the most. Maybe it was because Netflix started streaming the anime favorite on its streaming service in June of 2020. With a live-action version of the anime in development by Netflix, states will be searching for this series for years to come.
• One of the more popular anime series in America today, Pokémon topped the search results in eight states. Give credit where credit is due—Pokémon made anime more popular worldwide, particularly in the U.S., where the two highest-grossing anime movies are Pokémon films. 
• Naruto tops the search results in six states. The series was listed as the 38th best-animated show in IGN’s Top 100 Animated series. In 2020, Naruto was also the third most watched show in the United States. Who doesn’t love a coming-of-age story of a pre-teen ninja trying to become the Hokage of his village?
• There’s an endearing quirk to My Hero Academia. Following the recent release of the film My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission in late October 2021, the anime series was most searched in five states. Good news for fans of the series—My Hero Academia’s sixth season will premiere in 2022.
• Even with the best IMDB score from all of the anime series on this list, Attack on Titan only managed to be on one state’s mind the most: Utah. Other notable anime series that only had one state to make the list included Jujutsu Kaisen (Hawaii) and Sailor Moon (California).

Methodology

We compiled a list of the 100 most popular anime (both classic and recently released series) based on data gathered from Polygon, CBR, My Anime List, Screen Rant, and Looper. We found each show’s search volume in SemRush and plugged the eight most most-searched shows into Google Trends to see which show was googled most by each state in the past 12 months.

About CenturyLinkQuote

CenturyLinkQuote is an authorized sales agent of Centurylink products. For media inquiries, please contact media@centurylinkquote.com.

A high-speed internet plan with enough bandwidth together with a high-functioning modem/router combination lays the foundation for a sturdy Wi-Fi signal. However, even when you have great internet service, Wi-Fi connections aren’t always perfect. Signals can be blocked by walls, fail to reach far enough, or run up against other in-home problems that stall your Wi-Fi speed or even create dead spots.

Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to boost your Wi-Fi signal, from utilizing specific hardware to simply changing Wi-Fi settings. Here are eight different options you can use to strengthen your Wi-Fi signal. 

Non-hardware boosting options:

1. Check Your Wired Internet Speed First

If your Wi-Fi signal seems weak or slow, the issue might actually be with your wired internet connection. Use an ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to your modem and then run an internet connection speed test to ensure you’re getting the right upload and download speeds. If your speed is lower than what it should be, contact your internet provider for help diagnosing what’s wrong.

2. Strategically Place Your Wi-Fi Router

A Wi-Fi router that is located in a central location in your home will offer a stronger signal. Pick a spot for your router that is up high and is as unobstructed by walls as possible. Keep it away from areas with lots of other electronics that could cause interference. Test your Wi-Fi speed by running a speed test on your computer or mobile device to find out if your signal has improved. Try moving the router to a few different locations and test the speed for each placement to find the best spot. 

3. Change the Wi-Fi Channel Number

Your Wi-Fi is broadcast through your home on a specifical “channel,” and outside interference from other Wi-Fi networks on the same channel can slow down your own Wi-Fi speeds. Many routers will automatically switch your Wi-Fi to the optimal channel, but sometimes the user has to manually choose a different channel. Try changing the Wi-Fi channel number to eliminate interference and improve signal strength. 

4. Update Your Modem’s Firmware

Your modem’s firmware is the internal programming that makes it run properly, so if this is outdated it could affect your internet speed. Although most modems will update their own firmware automatically, you may need to manually make sure that your modem’s firmware is updated to the most current available version. 

Hardware boosting options:

5. Buy a New Modem and Router

Sometimes getting a new modem and router will improve the quality of your Wi-Fi. If you got your modem directly from CenturyLink, it’s CenturyLink compatible and up-to-date. If not, you might not have the best modem for the job. Reach out to CenturyLink to add a compatible modem to your plan, or sign up for a new internet plan from CenturyLink to get a combined modem and router.

6. Install Wireless Boosters

A wireless signal booster amplifies the Wi-Fi signal broadcast by the router. Most Wi-Fi boosters look like antennae and plug directly into the back of a router. The booster effectively expands the signal range without creating a separate network.

When you look for a signal booster to purchase, pay attention to whether you’re getting a directional booster or an omnidirectional booster. As the name suggests, directional antennas only extend a signal in one direction, resulting in a longer but narrower range. Omnidirectional boosters, on the other hand, extend signals 360 degrees with a shorter reach.

Is a Booster the Right Choice?

A booster is a great choice for improving a Wi-Fi signal in big, open rooms. However, because boosters must be plugged into a router—sometimes with an extension cord, sometimes without—they aren’t the best choice for dead zones caused by thick walls or electrical interference, as those types of obstructions can cause connectivity issues even for strong Wi-Fi signals.

7. Add Wi-Fi Repeaters

A repeater works by wirelessly connecting to an existing Wi-Fi network and then broadcasting a new, separate signal. This requires the repeater to be in a location where it can both pick up on the existing router’s signal and rebroadcast to the area of spotty coverage.

Repeaters are often sold with all the capabilities of a booster, allowing them to send out a very strong rebroadcast signal. Repeaters are also generally cheaper than Wi-Fi extenders and are easy to set up anywhere in your house, even away from your wired modem. 

 Is a Repeater the Right Choice?

The wireless nature of a repeater makes it a great choice when you need to amplify your Wi-Fi in a remote spot like an outdoor patio or free-standing garage. If thick walls are an issue, a strategically placed repeater may also help angle the signal in the right direction.

However, some repeaters exacerbate latency or lag times on a Wi-Fi connection because the data has to go through one more step as it moves between the modem and the device. While the lag won’t noticeably disrupt web browsing, it may impede live online gaming or streaming.

8. Use Wi-Fi Extenders

Rather than broadcasting a wireless signal, powerline extenders work by sending internet signals along the electric wiring already present in a home. By using the existing electrical wiring, the extender creates a reliable wired internet connection without the need for an Ethernet cable.

Extenders are easy to set up. Simply connect one of two units to your modem/router combination and then plug it into a nearby power outlet. Next, connect the second unit to a plug in the area with poor Wi-Fi connectivity. Run a second cable to your wireless-enabled device or to another router to transmit a second wireless network.

Some extenders double as repeaters, which allows them to broadcast a cloned Wi-Fi signal without the need for an additional wireless router and without affecting the available bandwidth. Extenders are perfect for areas in your home that wouldn’t normally be “dead zones.”

Is an Extender the Right Choice?

Powerline extenders are optimized for use in newer homes or buildings that have obstruction-related Wi-Fi issues. Because these adapters can carry wired Internet through thick walls, they provide a smart way to transmit a connection to rooms that are far away from a building’s main router.

Even with all of these benefits, an extender is not a perfect solution for everyone. Older homes with older wiring can experience a significant slowdown using an extender.

The Difference Between a Booster, Repeater, and Extender

Wi-Fi boosters, repeaters, and extenders have the same goal: improving your wireless network’s quality and range. The difference between the gadgets lies in how they help to get that job done—each device improves weak Wi-Fi signals through a separate and distinct process.

Powerline extenders are best for buildings with new wiring that need strong Wi-Fi connections in rooms that are far away from the main router. This means boosters or repeaters are a better option for older homes. If you just need to strengthen your Wi-Fi signal across a large area, try a booster. If you need to bring Wi-Fi to an outdoor patio or garage that is away from your main router, try adding repeaters. 

Ultimately, the device you choose to help strengthen a weak Wi-Fi connection will depend on your network arrangement and where you’re trying to broadcast service. Use the above information to guide your decision and make the most of your wireless internet connection.

About CenturyLinkQuote

CenturyLinkQuote is an Authorized Sales Agent that offers Internet, TV and Phone Service across the United States. You can shop for the perfect plan for your home, learn how to bundle your services, or get in touch with a customer service representative. 

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Find out which CenturyLink services are available near you or call us at 1-888-997-2918.

It seems like every day, kids are more and more attached to their phones and computers. They might be surfing the web for the latest meme, checking Twitter to see what’s trending, or looking to see how many “likes” their last Instagram post received (have to make sure that lighting is on point). 

On average, children get their first smartphone as early as 10 years old. Because of this, they are more susceptible to internet crimes, cyberbullying, and malware. In fact, nearly 8,000 victims of internet crimes in 2018 were under the age of 20, leading some states to implement laws to help protect children from cyberbullying and sexting. Malware continues to spread like a disease across devices, including those of your children.

Last year, the team at CenturyLinkQuote dug into where these crimes happen, and this year, we focused our data points to provide a more thorough analysis of what’s really happening online in your state.

CenturyLinkQuote looked at three metrics to determine how safe a state is for kids online: internet crime rate (40% of the final score), cyberbullying and sexting laws (40%), and malware infection rate (20%). Using the state report provided by Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), we looked at the internet crime rate per 100,000 residents aged 0-19 years old. Cyberbullying.org’s report “Bullying Laws Across America” helped us analyze each state’s laws pertaining to cyberbullying and sexting. We composed a rubric where one point was given for each law passed and only a half point was given for proposed regulations that were yet to be passed in the state. A report by Enigma Software showed malware infection rates for each state. 

The Ten Safest States for Kids Online

1. Louisiana: Laissez les bon temps rouler—Louisiana sits atop the list as the safest state for your children to go online. Louisiana has one of the lowest victim rates for those under 20 (5.54) and is well under the national average for malware infection rates (34.24%).
2. Arkansas: Coming in a very close second by our rubric, Arkansas and its 11 cyberbullying and sexting laws help keep your child safe from internet harm. 
3. Hawaii: Aloha—Hawaii rounds out the top three states that are safest for children online. Only 21 victims under 20 were affected by an internet crime in 2018.
4. South Dakota: With ten laws battling cyberbullying and sexting, South Dakota is the fourth safest state for children online. In contrast, North Dakota is all the way down in 21st place.
5. Vermont: Ben & Jerry’s needs to come up with a new flavor, as Vermont ranks fifth, being 21% under the national average for malware infections. We’re thinking “Malware-Free Maple” or “Virus-Free Vanilla.”
6. Kansas: There’s no place like home, and Kansas knows that. Kansas has a low victim rate (7.15 per 100,000 residents under 20) and ten laws to protect children from cyberbullying and sexting.
7. Georgia: The End to Cyberbullying Act in Georgia has been proposed to end cyberbullying on and off-campus (middle school, high school, and college). This and ten other laws give Georgia a top-ten spot on our list.
8. Texas: Texas has one of the lower victim rates per 100,000 residents under the age of 20 (7.38). Mind you, they have over 8 million people under that age!
9. Utah: While it does have ten laws against the acts of cyberbullying and sexting, Utah’s victim rate (9.13) is nearly two residents more per 100,000 residents than Texas.
10. Connecticut: It leads most states with 11 laws in place to battle cyberbullying and sexting. Connecticut also has its malware infection rate 20.65% below the national average.

The Ten Most Dangerous States for Kids Online

1. Alaska: Only five cyberbullying laws? No requirement for schools to implement cyberbullying policies? Nothing to protect children from sexting? Alaska ranks as the most dangerous state for kids online. 
2. Nevada: With the worst victim rate of all 50 states (23.21), Nevada is not safe for children online, despite the malware infection rate falling below the national average (-25.18%).
3. New Hampshire: It might as well be called New Malware, as it sits 88% above the national average for malware infection rates, making it one of the most dangerous states for children. It doesn’t help that it only has four laws protecting kids from cyberbullying.
4. Montana: With one law simply defining what bullying is, nothing else, Montana is the fourth most dangerous state for kids online. Its saving grace? Its relatively low victim rate per 100,000 residents (8.21).
5. Virginia: With malware infections 67% above the national average and more than ten victims per 100,000 residents, Virginia is not the safest place for your kids online.

Rounding out the most dangerous states for your kids online are 6. Washington, 7. Oregon, 8. Alabama, 9. Wisconsin, and 10. Missouri.

Internet Safety Starts With You

When it comes to internet safety, some things are harder to control than others, but there are ways to make sure your family is safe. Be aware of suspicious language in your emails to avoid being part of a scam. Stop malware infections with the latest security software. When it comes to cyberbullying and sexting, be involved with your children’s internet habits. If you feel like your state isn’t doing enough to combat cyberbullying and sexting, call your state representatives to express your concerns.

If you want to learn more ways to keep your family safe from the potential harms of the internet, check out our Family Guide to Internet Safety for an in-depth look at malware, identity theft, and cyberbullying, and how to recognize and prevent these things from happening under your roof.

About CenturyLinkQuote

CenturyLinkQuote is an Authorized Sales Agent that offers Internet, TV and Phone Service across the United States. Reporters can email media@centurylinkquote.com.

A Nigerian prince does not have millions of dollars to share with you. The IRS is not threatening to seize your tax return. Your social security number is not suspended or compromised. These are just some of the common internet scams fraudsters use to gain personal information; thousands of people are scammed every year into giving up their identities and their money. 

The FBI releases an annual report based on its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). It breaks down the complaints, where they’re from, and the amount of money lost. The team at CenturyLinkQuote used the data to piece together which states had the most victims and lost the most money. The map below shows victim rate levels for each state to help visualize these findings.

Are You Being Scammed?

Imagine losing over $18,000 every time you were scammed. According to the 2018 report from the IC3, that’s the average amount lost by victims in North Carolina. This amounted to over $137 million lost for the entire Tar Heel State. Even with those staggering numbers, North Carolina was not the state that lost the most money in 2018. With over $450 million stolen, California lost the most money due to internet scams, with New York coming in second at $207 million.

How do these scammers succeed? There are two factors to look at: which scam affected the most victims and which scam cost Americans the most money. More victims were affected by the non-payment/non-delivery scam than any other scam out there. This happens when someone is never paid for the goods and services they provide or when they do not receive what they already paid for. Business Email Compromise (BEC) and Email Account Compromise (EAC) scams caused the most money loss. These are just like what they sound like: a business email is compromised and makes illegal wire transfers of funds into the scammer’s account. With over $1 billion lost in this scam alone, it’d be smart to make sure your email account is secure.

Fast Phishing Facts

• For the second year in a row, Alaska had the most victims per 10,000 residents at 21.67. Also for the second straight year, South Dakota had the least amount of victims per 10,000 residents at 5.35, which is an increase over last year. It’s neighbor to the north was close behind with 6.08 victims per 10,000 residents.
• Nearly 41,000 victims were scammed on social media, losing over $101 million. Another $182 million was lost through virtual currency, affecting over 36,000 people. So keep your friends close, and your virtual currency closer.
• People aged 60 and over are the most targeted age group for scammers. They lost nearly $650 million in internet scams, including confidence/relationship fraud. These scammers convince people to send money to someone who sounds trustworthy (an extended family member, a trusted brand name, or a possible romantic partner).
• BECs and EACs account for over $1 billion in losses. Confidence/relationship fraud accounts for over $360 million in losses, and investment scams rounded out the top three with over $252 million in losses.

Methodology

We used the FBI’s 2018 IC3 Report to focus on two details: victim rate and loss rate. These numbers are based on the total number of complaints when the complainant provided state information. The state population estimates came from the 2017 American Community Survey under the United States Census Bureau.

CenturyLinkQuote is an Authorized Sales Agent that offers Internet, TV and Phone Service across the United States. For media inquiries, please contact media@centurylinkquote.com

Travel can be an exhilarating experience. There’s nothing like imagining a trip in anticipation—all the Instagram pics to take, the new foods to try, and the cultural nuances to explore.

It’s no surprise then that in 2017, nearly 10% of the US population (over 38 million people) made the voyage across borders—and in some instances, across the seas. But where, exactly, did they go? According to 2017 data from the National Travel & Tourism Office (NTTO), we identified the most popular international destinations.

But that got us thinking – which US states are visiting which countries? We combined the top travel destinations from the NTTO 2017 data with Google Search Trends data to determine each state’s most-searched travel destination.

Trying to figure out where to fly next? Check out where your neighbors are wanting to go based on the following graphic. 

The Most Interesting Findings

Where To, Captain? According to the map, over 76% of states were searching for countries in Europe. England was the most popular destination within that continent. This is in line with how Americans actually traveled in 2017, with Europe being the most popular destination (38% of all US international visitors went there). The Caribbean was the second most popular region, with 24% of leisure travelers having visited there.

So Many Choices. American Airlines or Delta? Nonstop or layover? Day flight or red-eye? There are many factors when it comes to clicking the final purchase button. Airfare still ends up being the main factor when choosing which airline to book with—convenient schedules and non-stop flights are secondary. It’s a good thing we have that information for the 37% of travelers who are money-conscious: On average, a trip can cost a little over $4,000 per travel party, or $2,423 per visitor. Of that cost per visitor, about $1,000 of that goes to the airfare. So start saving up, as it’ll cost you a grand just to get where you’re going and back!

YOLO or Solo? A trip overseas can be scary, especially if you’re doing it by yourself. Yet a majority (57%) of people do just that. That leaves the remaining 43% traveling with a spouse, a family member, friends, or some combination of the three. Some have bonds so tight, they invite their friends on their family trips to faraway lands. And whether your traveling alone or with others, at least you’re traveling at all.

Planning Makes Perfect—Sometimes. Passport? Check. Luggage? Check. Phone charger? Check. On average, people plan their international trips 110 days in advance! That’s plenty of time to make sure they have what they need to make their trips a success. However, 45% of travelers do not pre-book their lodging. They figure it out as they go, we guess. Is it even an adventure if you know where you’re going to lay your head that night?

Methodology

Using the top 25 most visited international countries according to the National Travel & Tourism Office, we used Google Trends to see where each state wanted to travel most. The additional information came from the same office’s 2017 Survey of International Air Travelers.

About CenturyLinkQuote

CenturyLinkQuote is an Authorized Sales Agent that offers Internet, TV and Phone Service across the United States. Find speed availability here or call us at 1-855-640-4510. For media inquiries, please contact media@centurylinkquote.com

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