Facebook has created a site devoted to the most talked-about topics on its platform this year.
To determine the most talked-about stories, Facebook measured “how frequently a topic was mentioned in Facebook posts made between January and December 2015.”
The review highlights a great deal of human suffering with a few rays of light: last month’s devastating Paris attacks, the Nepal earthquake, the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis, and the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the US.
Facebook compiled a series of top 10 list detailing what people in the US and across the world were sharing on the social network.
The US presidential election topped the lists for Top 10 Topics both globally and in the States. But it should surprise no one that 2015 was an exceptionally hard year, with some of the most talked about topics having to do with the shootings in Charleston, terror in Paris, and protests in Baltimore.
The 2015 Facebook Year in Review presents a slideshow of images devoted to the subjects users discussed the most. The number one topic is actually an event that has yet to be decided; namely the U.S. presidential election. In second place, are the November 13 terror attacks in Paris — which saw users from around the world show their solidarity with the victims.
2015 Year in Review from Facebook on Vimeo.
Scrolling through the photos, users are prompted to read more about each specific event.
Clicking on this option reveals a short caption along with a series of popular posts dedicated to it. Also on the site is a video composed of clips from the featured events, much like a news broadcast, with many of the moving images framed within the borders of a Facebook post — see below.
The other major topics that make up the list are the Syrian civil war and the resulting refugee crisis, the devastating earthquakes that hit Nepal earlier this year, the Greek debt crisis that led to anti-austerity protests within the country, the historic marriage equality ruling in the U.S., the fight against ISIS, the Charlie Hebdo attack (also in Paris), the Baltimore protests over the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody, and the Charleston shooting and flag debate.
Users also have the option to like and share the list via their own Facebook page.
The social platform has also included lists for a number of other trending categories, including entertainers, politicians, athletes, and places.
Top places
Disney Properties
Universal Studios Properties
Times Square, New York City
Eiffel Tower
Niagara Falls
Siam Paragon
Grand Canyon National Park
Yosemite National Park
The Louvre
Central Park
Beto Carrero World
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
Gardens by the Bay
Marina Bay Sands
Ibirapuera Park
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Madison Square Park
Santa Monica Pier
Camp Nou
Expo Milano 2015
Top athletes
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Manny Pacquiao
Ronda Rousey
Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
Tom Brady
Stephen Curry
LeBron James
Serena Williams
Carlos Tevez
Top entertainers
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
Kanye West
Nicky Jam
Wiz Khalifa
Drake
Pitbull
Caitlyn Jenner
The Weeknd
Shakira
Top movies
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Fast & Furious 7
Jurassic World
Avengers: Age of Ultron
American Sniper
Straight Outta Compton
Fifty Shades of Grey
Mad Max: Fury Road
Magic Mike XXL
Pitch Perfect 2
Top politicians
Barack Obama
Donald Trump
Dilma Rousseff
Hillary Clinton
Bernie Sanders
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Recep Taytip Erdoğan
Muhammadu Buhari
Narendra Modi
Benjamin Netanyah
Top new games
FIFA 15
Mortal Kombat X
Fallout Shelter & Fallout 4
Batman: Arkham Knight
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Dying Light
Star Wars: Battlefront
Pac-Man 256
Halo 5: Guardians
Top TV shows
Game of Thrones
The Walking Dead
The Daily Show
Saturday Night Live
WWE Raw
The Simpsons
19 Kids and Counting
Grey’s Anatomy
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Orange is the New Black