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Facebook – The Top Ten Hot Topics in Italy Posted by on Dec 13, 2013 in News

Do you use Facebook? Personally, I never touched it until I emigrated to Italy and discovered that it could be an easy, non e-mail (e-mail is for work!), means of keeping up with family and friends. And now that I’ve learned how to block most of the stupid ads, and other rubbish that doesn’t interest me I quite enjoy it.

But I’m sure you’re dying to know what’s happening on Facebook in Italy, aren’t you? Here are the top ten hot topics that Italian Facebook users discuss:

1. Lampedusa: se si parla dell’isola non è per viaggi e vacanze, ma per gli sbarchi (spesso tragici) sulle sue coste di decine di migliaia di migranti in arrivo dall’Africa.
Lampedusa: if people are talking about the island it’s not due to travelling and holidays, but because of the (often tragic) landings on its coasts of tens of thousands of migrants coming from Africa.

2. Elezioni politiche: la lista prosegue con le “elezioni politiche”. Su Facebook, durante la campagna elettorale, di gruppi e pagine ad hoc ne sono nate parecchie.
Political Elections: the list continues with "political elections". Lots of specially created groups and pages appeared on Facebook during the electoral campaign.

3. Mario Balotelli: la star di Facebook all’italiana è il calciatore Mario Balotelli, che si piazza terzo in classifica.
Mario Balotelli: the star of Facebook ‘Italian style’ is the footballer Mario Balottelli, who is placed third in the charts.

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4. Il Royal Baby: trend a livello mondiale, arriva quarto anche in Italia.
The Royal Baby: a worldwide (Facebook) trend, arrives fourth in Italy as well.

5. Margherita Hack: la scienziata Margherita Hack è mancata a fine giugno, ma di lei si parla ancora. E Facebook non fa eccezione tanto che finisce al quinto posto.
Margherita Hack: the scientist Margherita Hack died at the end of June, but people still talk about her. And Facebook is no exception, in fact she finishes in fifth place.

6. Giulio Andreotti: morto a maggio, di lui si è discusso parecchio. Tra citazioni e ricordi (e pure profili fake, come quello nell’immagine) è finito sesto nella classifica.
Giulio Andreotti: the politician who died in May, has been discussed a lot. What with quotes and memoirs (and even fake profiles, like the one in the image) he finished sixth in the charts.

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7. Meteorite: ricordate l’allarme meteoriti lanciato a inizio novembre? La paura della caduta di alcuni pezzi sull’Italia ha fatto sì che la parola “meteorite” fosse settima in classifica.
Meteorite: do you remember the meteorite scare at the beginning of November? The fear of pieces falling on Italy has caused the word "meteorite" to come seventh in the charts.

8. IVA (Imposta di Valore Aggiunto): ma la vera paura degli italiani riguarda fisco e tasse. Così l’aumento dell’Iva si ritrova all’ottavo posto. Gli italiani non lo vogliono proprio!
VAT (Value Added Tax): but the real fear for the Italians is about revenue authorities and taxes. Due to this, increases in VAT takes eighth place. The Italians really don’t want it!

9. Il Papa: il tema più dibattuto al mondo è Papa Bergoglio? In Italia, invece, si parla ancora di Papa Benedetto.
The Pope : is the most discussed topic in the world Pope Bergoglio? Well, in Italy we are still talking about Pope Benedict.

10. Costa Concordia: chiude la classifica il tema Costa Concordia: dal naufragio della nave da crociera sono passati quasi due anni, ma se ne parla ancora per il raddrizzamento e la rimozione. Per molti, una metafora dell’Italia da rimettere in piedi.
Costa Concordia: the topic of the Costa Concordia (cruise liner) closes the charts: nearly two years have gone by since the shipwreck, but people are still talking about it because of the salvage operations. For many, it’s a metaphor for an Italy that has to be put back on its feet again.

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But is this really what Italians spend their time chatting about? Let’s hear the opinions of three ‘Corriere della Sera’ readers:

– Penso che gli italiani che non discutono su facebook o twitter (anzi non lo usano proprio) siano una maggioranza schiacciante.
I think that the Italians who don’t discuss on Facebook or twitter (rather, don’t use them at all) are a crushing majority.

– Su facebook ci si va per farsi i fatti altrui, e per mostrare i propri fatti privati a tutti…PUNTO
People go onto facebook to nose into other people’s business, and to share their own private business with everyone else …FULL STOP

– I social non rappresentano il pensiero degli italiani, anzi rappresentano solo il pensiero del peggio del paese. Solo chi non ha un c. da fare e passa la vita davanti alla tv o al cellulare usa tutto il giorno i social.
Social networking doesn’t represent the thoughts of the Italians, rather, they represent the thoughts of the worst of the country. Only those who haven’t got a f**king thing to do and spend their lives in front of the TV or on their cell phone use social networking all day long.

What do you think, does Facebook really represent the thoughts of a nation, or is it just a load of empty gossip amongst people who have nothing better to do?

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Comments:

  1. Mike Mazzaschi:

    Nice piece, oppure in FB Italiano, bell’articolo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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