On your second paragraph, notice its “relative searches” which it then explains in the subheading. Not top searches.
If debauchery like “hand-holding” got 0.5% of searches in one state while in other states it got 0.1% of searches, and there wasnt as much a difference for other terms, thats the top relative search.
But it doesnt tell us anything about how many people actually searched for it.
On your second paragraph, notice its “relative searches” which it then explains in the subheading. Not top searches.
If debauchery like “hand-holding” got 0.5% of searches in one state while in other states it got 0.1% of searches, and there wasnt as much a difference for other terms, thats the top relative search.
But it doesnt tell us anything about how many people actually searched for it.
I understood it as the one with the highest percentage in that state at first. What you said makes a lot more sense and is a bit of a relief.
Im guessing the map wouldnt get much attention for top searches, those would probably be very normal things, so they went for this method :)