2020 Year in Review: Top moments and events on Facebook

Facebook has shared the top moments of 2020 among users in India and globally. Facebook has divided the top moments into six themes based on the most talked about events of the year.

2020 was a year dedicated to icons in different fields starting with the passing of Kobe Bryant which was the most discussed moment on Facebook this year. Facebook users in the US, Mexico and the Philippines shared the most posts and photos celebrating Kobe Bryant’s life. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Badger’s passing also saw a massive commemoration online with more than 6 million posts in one day on Facebook and Instagram. Her passing was shared with many using the hashtag #restinpower.

India also witnessed the passing of icons including Irrfan Khan, Rishi Kapoor, Sushant Singh Rajput, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Pranab Mukherjee.

Covid-19 was undoubtedly the most talked about event this year. Under Covid-19 there were different events recorded on Facebook and Instagram. During the whole of March, 1.5 million Spaniards used the hashtag #aplausosanitario to express their gratitude for medical staff. The lockdown in Italy also saw Facebook and Instagram Live views double as residents sang on balconies during quarantine.

Live broadcasts from Pages in India also tripled in June 2020 as compared to last year. Facebook also said that its fundraiser feature and the ‘I for India’ fundraiser concert also witnessed over 85 artists raise funds for people affected by the pandemic. There were more fundraiser concerts including ‘#BeForBENGAL’ held on World Music Day to raise funds for the victims of Amphan. Globally, over 1.3 million people raised more than $35 million to help those affected by the Australian wildfires. Facebook said this was the largest fundraiser ever on its platform.

2020 also witnessed the biggest awareness for the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement. Conversations around Black Lives Matter tripled with an average of 7.5 million mentions on Facebook every day. This was three weeks after George Flyod’s death.

The US presidential election was another major event that took place in 2020. Prior to the election in August, Kamala Harris’ Vice Presidential selection announcement saw more than 10 million posts in one day. This event was highly talked about in India owing to her Indian lineage.

2020 also led to events and festivals going virtual starting with the holiday week of April 6 for Easter and Passover which was the biggest week for group video calls on Messenger. This was also the most popular week for Facebook live broadcasts from spiritual Pages. Diwali was also a big virtual celebration with Facebook witnessing more than 7.5 million posts and comments shared between October 20 and November 10.

Facebook has also for the first time, curated the top cultural moments of 2020. These events have been selected as those with the highest levels of interaction across Facebook’s apps.

Michael Jordan’s “The Last Dance” documentary

Dave Chappelle’s Netflix special

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP”

Harry Styles - Golden song release

Los Angeles Lakers win the 2020 NBA Championship

Katy Perry announces her pregnancy via music video

“Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion

Shakira and Jennifer Lopez’s Super Bowl halftime performance

Netflix’s “Tiger King”

Andrea Bocelli’s Easter performance from Milan, Italy