Jill's Journal: You can’t fool us South Dakotans!

There seems to be a study for everything these days. And earlier this week, the results of a social listening study by High 5 Casino (high5casino.com/) determined that we South Dakotan’s are less likely to fall for an April Fool’s Day prank than top-ranked Rhode Island.

The study, as I learned, analyzed Google searches and social media discussions about April Fools’ pranks. While South Dakota may be lacking on “teacher pay”, you can’t pull the wool over our eyes. The study ranked the Mount Rushmore State No. 49 with a total score of 1.16 out of 10. Out of 50,000 residents, only 16.39 April Fools-related Google searches were detected. They tracked 36 different prank-related search terms and phrases like “April Fools prank”, and to determine each state’s odds of being the ultimate prank target.

Rhode Islanders must be a gullible bunch. The study showed that the Ocean State tops the list with 48.5 prank-related Google searches per 50,000 residents, and a whopping 90.6 social media mentions.

The most-searched prank in Rhode Island? “Prank calls.” 

Utah takes second place, leading the nation with 67 prank-related Google searches per 50,000 residents. Clearly, folks in the Beehive State are doing their homework before pulling off some mischief. And with 65.3 social media mentions per 50,000 residents, there’s a good chance someone they know plotted something sneaky.

Coming in at No. 3 is Nevada. Their numbers revealed that its residents don’t just take risks at the casino – they go all in on April Fools’ jokes. With 85.3 social media mentions per 50,000 residents, you may want to keep your guard up in the Silver State on April 1.

Rounding out the top five are New York and Florida, at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively. Residents in these states might want to keep their heads on a swivel on April Fools’ Day.

Alaska holds the No. 50 ranking for not falling for an April Fools’ Day prank. It’s down significantly from South Dakota’s 16.39 resident searches at 5.61.

I’m attributing that to less sunlight, which potentially could lead to more time with their eyes shut.

One state that was absent from either list surprisingly so was Washington, D.C.

That’s a bit ironic, as every day our nation’s leaders seem to find a way to prank its people.