Top topics 2020 in Switzerland on Facebook

The Top 10 of the Year in Review is based on a survey of key values in the period from January 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020. The keywords were compared with the maximum values of a single day in the previous year. Thus, keywords such as Mother's Day and Halloween, which are usually the top moments of each year, do not appear in the list.

1. coronavirus 

The year 2020 was almost completely dominated by the global corona pandemic. It's no wonder, then, that the term "coronavirus" was the one that people in Switzerland exchanged the most on Facebook overall. Topics such as "quarantine," "vaccination," "pandemic" and "disinfectant" were also suddenly discussed - all words that had not necessarily been part of our everyday language before.

2. death of Ennio Morricone

Italian composer Ennio Morricone left his mark on film music like no other. The "Maestro", as his fans affectionately called him, created 500 compositions for films. On the night of July 6, Ennio Morricone died at the age of 91. His death was the second most discussed topic on Facebook in Switzerland. Many people thanked him for his life's work.

3. university of zurich discontinues face-to-face courses  

In response to the first wave of the pandemic, the University of Zurich announced on March 16 that it would be holding courses without contact until further notice and that it would no longer be holding any face-to-face courses. The preceding weeks were used to expand online teaching so that students can work through the learning material from home. The switch to digital teaching is the third most discussed topic on Facebook in Switzerland.

4. compulsory wearing of masks in public transport 

When contagions in Switzerland increased again after the relaxation measures in July, the Federal Council decreed that masks were compulsory on public transport. Until then, Switzerland had only recommended the use of face masks, but hardly any passengers on trains, streetcars or buses complied. The introduction of compulsory masks was one of the top topics among Swiss people on Facebook in 2020.

5. death of Kobe Bryant

On January 26, US basketball player and national hero Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles. Many people in Switzerland commemorated the sports legend and made their icon one of the most commented events on Facebook.

6. music on balconies against corona crisis in Italy

Every man for himself, but all together: On March 13, people from north to south in Italy simultaneously stood on their balconies or by their windows with instruments or singing to sing songs together. The whole country took part in the "Flashmob sonoro" - and the videos of it were among the top moments of Swiss Facebook users.

7. bushfires in Australia 

Australia is regularly affected by large-scale bushfires. From August 2019 to March 2020, twelve million hectares of land were devastated. More than 30 people and countless animals lost their lives. The bushfires were among the most mentioned topics on Facebook in Switzerland - and became the biggest fundraiser ever on Facebook: Worldwide, more than 2.5 million people raised $35 million to help those affected.

8. explosion in Beirut 

The devastating explosion in the port of Beirut claimed the lives of at least 190 people this summer. More than 6,000 people were injured, some seriously, and hundreds of thousands were left homeless. The tragic event was also frequently discussed on Facebook. The fundraising campaign on Facebook raised more than 1.5 million US dollars for victims and survivors.

9th Lenzburg Photo Festival 

Actually, the Fotofestival Lenzburg should have taken place already in spring, but due to the Corona pandemic it was held late this year from September 12 to October 25. The festival brought the national and international photographic world to the small town in the Swiss canton of Aargau. The exhibitions, workshops and lectures are among the most shared content among Swiss Facebook users.

10. hospital Bergamo

The Italian city of Bergamo in Lombardy has been at the center of the virus outbreak in Italy since February. The large "Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII" is one of the symbolic sites for the corona crisis in the country. The dramatic images of Covid 19 patients in crowded halls and corridors went around the world.

According to a recent survey, more than three million Swiss people are currently members of a Facebook group. Since the first wave of the pandemic hit Switzerland and people have increasingly spent their time at home, more than 2 million Swiss people have joined various groups on Facebook. They exchange ideas about Corona and create something positive together. A selection of the best groups:

"Gärn gschee" - Switzerland shows solidarity

In neighborhood support groups, people call for cohesion and solidarity. With encouraging words, people support each other during this time and help neighbors who need support. One of the first groups was "Gärn gschee - Basel hilft". It currently has more than 15,000 members. People in Zurich and Bern also quickly networked with each other on Facebook, including in the group "Gern gscheh - Tsüri hilft <3," which has more than 8,000 members, and in the group "Gärn gschee - Bärn hiuft," which has more than 5,000 members. Meanwhile, the neighborhood help groups exist in almost every Swiss canton.

The Sky over Corona

Another project brought to life by the pandemic is "The Sky over Corona" by Olivia Aloisi from Basel. This group is about how the sky is currently clearer to see than usual due to the restrictions. People from all over the world post snapshots of the sky, creating a unique anthology of memories of a time when global air travel is severely restricted. The group has nearly 20,000 members.

The Swiss of the year 

He is considered Switzerland's "Mr. Corona": Daniel Koch, the former head of Communicable Diseases at the Federal Office of Public Health, calmly maneuvered Switzerland through the first Corona wave. In May, he retired, but it was not quiet around him. In the group "Daniel Koch - Swiss of the Year 2020", almost 9,000 members thank him for his honest assessment of the pandemic and call for Daniel Koch to be named Swiss of the Year.

Teachers share tips for distance learning 

The "Enseignants Romands COVID-19" group brings together teachers from French-speaking Switzerland to exchange ideas on the impact of the coronavirus on school operations and support services. In addition, the more than 6,000 group members share tips and exercises to help students learn through distance learning

Digital Christmas markets 

A large part of the Christmas markets in Switzerland were canceled this year. To help local exhibitors, the group "Le marché de Noël des petits artisans ☃️" was founded. Here, artists can post and sell their creations, some of which are handmade. The administrators of the group also provide tips on how best to photograph their products. The group has almost 27,000 members.