Topline
As world leaders race to stave off a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine that could lead to Europe’s biggest armed conflict since World War II, Americans’ attention on Facebook was largely turned elsewhere over the past week, with stories about pets and the Super Bowl halftime show topping any articles about the crisis in eastern Europe.
Civilians, including Tatiana, 21, a university veterinary medicine student who is also enrolled in a … [+]
Key Facts
The most popular link posts on Facebook in the U.S. were an unusual hodgepodge over the past week, with all of the top ten posts about different topics, and none of those linking to a story about Ukraine, according to data compiled by social media tracking firm NewsWhip.
In fact, not a single link to a story about Ukraine appeared in the top 100 link posts in the past seven days.
Though the most-shared news on Facebook doesn’t match the top stories at media outlets every week, news generating an overwhelming amount of coverage, like Ukraine has, is almost always represented in some way among the most popular link posts.
The top link post over the past week, from musician Kid Rock, did mention Ukraine in passing but only as part of the right-wing rocker’s jab at President Joe Biden and gas prices, lamenting about the possibility of “higher gas prices if Russia invades the Ukraine.”
His post, linking to a list of tour dates, has attracted nearly 180,000 interactions.
It beat out local news stories about a former Tuskegee airman turning 100 and firefighters rescuing a dog trapped in a 15-foot hole, which were the No. 2 and No. 3 most popular stories, respectively.
Surprising Fact
Three right-wing figures typically dominate posting the most popular links on Facebook: commentator Ben Shapiro, radio host Dan Bongino and pastor Franklin Graham. Only Shapiro published a post that cracked the top ten this week, sharing news about Alec Baldwin facing a wrongful death lawsuit for killing a cinematographer on a movie set in October. Baldwin has called the shooting accidental.
Key Background
American officials are warning that Russia could move into Ukraine at any time, saying the Russians have put infrastructure in place near the Ukrainian border to support a full-scale ground invasion. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed this week he was pulling back troops, but U.S. intelligence suggests that the opposite is happening. President Joe Biden said Tuesday officials believe Russia has stationed about 150,000 troops around the Ukrainian border, upping an earlier estimate by 20,000. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the UN Security Council Thursday he believes Russia is plotting a “false flag” attack, in which they will claim that Ukraine struck first to justify an invasion.
Tangent
Violence has increased over the past few days in far eastern Ukraine, which is controlled by pro-Russia separatists. The separatist leader of the region has called for a mass evacuation of residents into neighboring Russia.
Further Reading
Jussie Smollett News And A ‘Let’s Go Brandon Store’ Dominate Facebook—Thanks In Part To Ben Shapiro (Forbes)
Alec Baldwin Sued By Victim’s Family For Wrongful Death Over ‘Rust’ Shooting (Forbes)
Car Bombing Reported In Separatist East Ukraine Amid Fears Of False Flag Attack To Justify Russian Invasion (Forbes)
Biden Says Russian Invasion Of Ukraine Remains ‘Possibility’ With U.S. Yet To See Signs Putin Is Withdrawing Troops As Claimed (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/02/18/world-watches-potential-war-in-ukrainebut-americans-on-facebook-show-little-interest/