Facebook has created a site devoted to the most talked-about topics on its platform this year. From humanitarian crises to activist movements, it seems Facebook users were just as interested in relevant global issues this year as they were in sharing viral videos and personal posts.
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.
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.
Facebook states that in order to compile the results of its year-end review it measured “how frequently a topic was mentioned in Facebook posts made between January and December 2015.” 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. Check out the other global results in full below.
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 Netanyahu
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
