Facebook Reveals What Makes a City “Social”

This fascinating snapshot of urban hotspots around the world reveals a pattern. The sites most snapped, shared and tweeted had 3 common traits:

1. Visually distinctive–e.g. Trevi Fountain. I took a snap there myself this spring amidst scores of others all doing the same thing–snapping shots on smart phones and sharing. There is no doubt we are becoming a visual culture worldwide.

2. Culturally rich. There is a sense of past. It’s simple to grasp in a thumbnail. This comes from investment made in cultural infrastructure long ago that resonates today among visitors.

3. Spirit of adventure. Top ranking cities have that “wish you were here” aspirational quality.