By Robert D’Onofrio, Facebook Data Editor
Today, we’re taking a look back at the people, moments and places that mattered most on Facebook in 2013.
Conversations happening all over Facebook offer a unique snapshot of the world, and this year was no different. Every day, people post about the topics and milestones that are important to them – everything from announcing an engagement, to discussing breaking news, or even celebrating a favorite athlete or sports team.
We analyzed the past year’s worth of these posts to reveal the top global trends of 2013:
Top Life Events
Check out the life events people added to their Timeline most frequently in 2013.
1. Added a relationship, got engaged or got married
2. Traveled
3. Moved
4. Ended a relationship
5. First met a friend
6. Added a family member, expecting a baby or had a baby
7. Got a pet
8. Lost a loved one
9. Got a piercing
10. Quit a habit
Top Check-Ins Around The World
Explore the places around the world with the most check-ins (excluding transportation hubs).
Argentina: Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires
Australia: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), East Melbourne, Victoria
Brazil: Parque Ibirapuera, São Paulo
Canada: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
Egypt: Sharm el-Sheikh, South Sinai Governorate, Egypt
France: Disneyland Paris, Marne La Vallée
Germany: Reeperbahn, Hamburg
Hong Kong: 香港迪士尼樂園 | Hong Kong Disneyland
Iceland: Blue Lagoon, Reykjavík, Iceland
India: Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple)
Italy: Piazza San Marco, Venice
Japan: 東京ディズニーランド (Tokyo Disneyland), Tokyo
Mexico: Auditorio Nacional, Mexico City
Nigeria: Ikeja City Mall, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
Poland: Temat Rzeka, Warsaw
Russia: Центральный парк культуры и отдыха им. Горького | Gorky Park of Culture and Leisure
Singapore: Marina Bay Sands
South Africa: Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
South Korea: Myungdong Street, Seoul
Spain: Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Catalonia
Sweden: Friends Arena, Solna
Taiwan: 花園夜市Tainan Flower Night Market, Tainan City
Turkey: Taksim Square, Istanbul
United Kingdom: The 02, London
United States: Disneyland, Anaheim, California
Most Talked About Topics
Take a look at the most mentioned people and events of 2013, which point to some of the most popular topics around the world.
1. Pope Francis
2. Election
3. Royal Baby
4. Typhoon
5. Margaret Thatcher
6. Harlem Shake
7. Miley Cyrus
8. Boston Marathon
9. Tour de France
10. Nelson Mandela
While some of the people or topics featured on this year’s global list need no introduction, like Pope Francis, others prompted us to dig a little deeper. “Election” appeared in many languages, and was the second most mentioned term on Facebook worldwide in 2013. With high-profile national elections in countries like India, Kenya, Iran and Italy year, it’s not a surprise to see it near the top of our list.
We also took the pulse of regional conversations in 16 different countries to give people a look at the most talked about topics near them.
These lists are available on Facebook Stories at FacebookStories.com/2013.
Methodology
Top life events and check-ins: We looked at which life events and places generated the most posts and check-ins in 2013, and then used the data to create global and country-level rankings.
Most talked about topics: We measured how many Facebook posts in 2013 mentioned a specific topic and then ranked those topics based on the overall number of mentions to create each list. Mentions include both the term itself and related hashtags. For example, both “Here at the #inauguration” and “Proud to be at the presidential inauguration” would be calculated as part of the buzz related to a single event.
Your Year in Review
People can also look back that their own biggest moments of the year, including life events and popular posts you’ve shared. This personalized look back also includes the option to see highlights and popular posts by friends. See your year in review at Facebook.com/YearInReview.
The U.S. Year in Review
In addition to our global data, we’ve also curated lists about activity on Facebook specific to the U.S.
Most Talked About Topics in the U.S.
1. Super Bowl
2. Government Shutdown
3. Boston Marathon
4. Syria Crisis
5. Harlem Shake
6. Pope Francis
7. George Zimmerman
8. Royal Baby
9. Nelson Mandela
10. Presidential Inauguration
11. NBA Finals
12. Kim Kardashian
13. Miley Cyrus
14. James Gandolfini
15. Meteor Sighting
Most Talked About By Topic in the U.S.
Sports – Super Bowl
Movies – The Conjuring
TV Shows – Scandal
Music – Get Lucky by Daft Punk*
Books – “Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander” by Phil Robertson
Games – Criminal Case by Pretty Simple Games
Public Figures – Peyton Manning
Politics – Government Shutdown
Technology – Instagram
Viral Moments – Harlem Shake
Internet Memes – Giraffe
*Most Played on Facebook via Spotify
Top Check-Ins in the U.S.
1. Disneyland & Disney California Adventure (Anaheim, CA)
2. Times Square (New York, NY)
3. Epcot – Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, FL)
4. Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles, CA)
5. AT&T Park (San Francisco, CA)
6. Rangers Ballpark (Arlington, TX)
7. Universal Studios Hollywood (Universal City, CA)
8. Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
9. MGM Grand Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas, NV)
10. Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (Houston, TX)
Top Life Events in the U.S.
1. Added a Relationship
2. Got Married
3. Got Engaged
4. Traveled
5. Moved
6. Ended a Relationship
7. Had a Baby
8. Expecting a Baby
9. First Met
10. Lost a Loved One