Doha: December is that time of the year when talks are about flashbacks and resolutions. Keeping this trend in sight, Twitter has brought out its list of most influential, most retweeted and top trends in the year that will soon go by – 2015.
It was the Paris Attacks and attacks at the Charlie Hebdo offices that garnered global cries with #PrayForParis and #JeSuisCharlie emerging as the top global trend.
Meanwhile some of the other moments that created global impact and garnered attention are the #BlackLivesMatter (that developed into a social movement), #IStandWithAhmed (14-year-old detained in Texas for bringing homemade clock that was feared to be a bomb; who has since moved to Qatar), #RefugeesWelcome (calling on EU countries to grant entrance) and #FIFAWWC (FIFA fans cheered for the best women in soccer).
As we study the Jan-Nov 2015 analysis of Twitter, we realise that as the world came together to express solidarity with victims of terror attacks, people worldwide also celebrated joyous occasions namely the US Supreme Court judgement on rights of same-sex couples to marry.
Another event that called for discussions and public discourse was elections. Citizens across conversed about major polls and ballots in Argentina, Canada, Singapore, India and the UK.
Whatever is the occasion and wherever may it happen, Twitter has brought the world closer in a literal sense with tweets reaching across to all corners. This can be seen from the most retweeted trends.
When news broke that One Direction member Zayn Malik was parting ways, Harry Styles @Harry_Styles expressed gratitude towards fans saying: “All the love as always. H”. This tweet was retweeted 743,727 times and was liked by 751,010. Six of the top 10 retweets were related to One Direction. Meanwhile there were few others whose tweets did reach far and wide.
One of them is US President Barack Obama’s tweet (@POTUS) on the US Supreme court ruling regarding gay marriages. He wrote: “Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins”. This tweet was retweeted by 447,864 and was liked by 432,704. (Read our story on top ten trending topic in Music)
Another one being from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. His tweet immediately after being crowned was a message of prayer and support to his people that was retweeted 369,727 times and liked by 129,409.
Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame before he passed away wrote: “A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP”. This last message was retweeted 277,013 times and liked by 205,072.
Emoticons made their way in the Twitter world and the most popular was the icon with tears of joy streaming down its face.
For most of its over 500 million users, Twitter is an open source of fastest and reliable information and it is here to stay, as can be seen from the 2015 trends.
