Apple Tops Brands in Twitter's Hot Topics of 2011

Those who regularly use Twitter [like the author], it's a regular surprise just how fast information can be designated and how that information can culture, spore, and explode with momentum. Just the same, regular users know just how banal Twitter can seem. As you eat up live updates on the #Syria feed, you realize that, instead of #Syria, #Anchorman is trending. Why? Because some basic cable channel happens to be rerunning the film Anchorman and millions are tweeting about it while watching.

Now Twitter has released a list of 2011's "Hot Topics" and it's exactly what an experienced tweeter would expect: true life and gravity (Japan's earthquake, Egyptian uprising) vs. pointlessness (Charlie Sheen's #tigerblood meme).

The top eight hashtags of 2011 are:

    1.    #egypt
    2.    #tigerblood
    3.    #threewordstoliveby
    4.    #idontunderstandwhy
    5.    #japan
    6.    #improudtosay
    7.    #superbowl
    8.    #jan25

Disasters and pointless late-night banter? #idontunderstandwhy

Twitter breaks down its list by a number of categories ranging from "soccer" to "actors" to "cities and countries" to "food and drink." Of the 14 categories and 96 different hashtags on the list, there were only 12 (conventional consumer) brand names that made the list. And 4 of those 12 belonged to one brand; can you guess which one?

No surprise, Apple dominates Twitter's brand-related conversation this year, with #ipad, #iphone, #ipod and #macapplestore making four of the top ten tech Twitter hashtags in 2011.

Other brands that saw themselves as top hashtags include Sony NGP, Mozilla Firefox, Nintendo, Kool-Aid, Starbucks, Devassa Beer and Guinness.

Interestingly, the top hashtag of 2011 in the Food and Drink category was "#McLobster." The tag referred to a rumor that McDonald's in the New England region of the US would soon be serving some kind of delicious lobster sandwich. Alas, McDonald's soon squashed the rumor (via Twitter, natch), leading to a lot of tweet lamenting. (And yet, the McLobster does exist. Or least it did, in Canada.)

In addition to top tags, Twitter has assembled a list of top 2011 stories. It's a fascinating cross-section and warrants a look, including takes such as the tweet that saved a bookstore, a surprise steak dinner and the guy who tweeted ""Sh*t, I need a kidney" and then got one.