Mapping online fluoride-related searches: A network analysis of Google data

This study investigates how fluoride-related topics are connected within Google search behaviour. Using Google Trendsdata (2004–2025), primary topics were iteratively expanded based on related searches weighted by Relative Search Volume (RSV). Network analysis was conducted in Gephi to map thematic structures and identify central connections among topics. The findings highlight how algorithmically mediated search processes can link conceptually distant themes, potentially reinforcing and amplifying misinformation about fluoride. The dataset provided includes the repeated topics used to construct the network.