"[...] the ten most searched terms, according to Google Trends, were: iOS7, PS4, Tim Tebow, Mac Pro, Kingdom Hearts, Miami Heat, IGN, Chad Johnson, NBA Playoffs, and the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference ( WWDC)."
Probably the most important cause of this is the fact that the mass media are tightly controlled by a couple of extremely rich people. And they don't like change as they fear the loss of power. The current system works very much in their favor.
Free and unbiased media is the basis for democracy.
Another way to look at it would be to say that people care about things that directly affect them. The NSA stuff isn't something that really affects anyone's day-to-day life, whereas in the US there are just HUGE portions of the country that play PS4, watch sports, buy phones, etc. No conspiracy theory necessary.
The Zimmerman trial isn't something that affects everyone's day-to-day life, but the media chose to focus on it. Imagine what would happen if the media had instead focused on the NSA scandal. If that were to happen, things would change very quickly.
This is a saddening statement. What I'm saying has nothing to do with conspiracy. (When I say "controlled by a couple of extremely rich people", "a couple" might even be "a few hundred", but that's still "a couple".)
You suggested that a few rich people control the media and tell people what to care about. That's pretty much the definition of conspiracy theory.
Alternate hypothesis: you're in a tiny minority of people who think the internet is really important. Like, foundation of society important, as opposed to a convenient place to buy shit and message your friends and look up the release date of the latest Madden game. Surveillance of the internet seems more important to you than it does to other people, and you can't understand why and have to resort to an explanation involving the shadowy elite.
Probably the most important cause of this is the fact that the mass media are tightly controlled by a couple of extremely rich people. And they don't like change as they fear the loss of power. The current system works very much in their favor.
Free and unbiased media is the basis for democracy.