In today’s newsletter, I discuss top social media accounts, the jobs market and home run hitters over the years.
MEDIA: Top Social Media Accounts
As social media impacts just about everything these days, I wanted to find out who had the most followed accounts across the three top platforms: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
So, I turned to Social Blade, a web site that tracks those kinds of things. Here’s what I found.
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo appears on the top ten most followed lists on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, according to Social Blade stats.
He joins many singers like Justin Bieber, Arian Grande, Rihanna, Katy Perry and Taylor Swift who are also popular on multiple platforms.
Pink's Bottom LineIt’s only on Twitter where politicians crack the top ten most followed list. Former President Barack Obama ranks first on Twitter while President Donald Trump has the sixth most followed account, according to Social Blade.
As for news sites, several — including two CNN accounts, the New York Times and a BBC account — appear in the top 50 list on Twitter while on Facebook three of the top 14 most followed are Chinese news sites, according to Social Blade data. No news sites appeared among the top 50 most followed accounts on Instagram.
My very quick and unscientific takeaway? It appears that Chinese news consumers gravitate toward Facebook while consumers of US news and politics prefer Twitter.
MONEY: JOLTS
There was some encouraging news on the jobs front from the government’s monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS), which was released earlier today.
According to that report, job openings increased to 6.43 million in September, up from 6.35 million in August — that’s about a 1.2% increase.
Meanwhile, according to the JOLTS report, layoffs totaled 1.33 million in September, down from 1.53 million in August — that’s about a 13% decline.
Pink's Bottom LineThis JOLTS report follows other encouraging data from last week’s October unemployment report, and together the two reports suggest that the overall jobs market is not faring too badly even in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the labor market will likely encounter significant headwinds over the next two months as the number of coronavirus cases is expected to surge to well above their current record levels.
That surge in cases could put a damper on hiring and could lead to an increase in layoffs all at a time when the overall jobs market has recovered only 12 of the 22 million jobs it has lost since the pandemic began.
SPORTS: Home Runs By Presidential Term
I happened to come across a fascinating set of statistics on Twitter the other day — it’s from the account @MLBRandomStats, which says it provides baseball stats and commentary.
That account compiled a list of the players who hit the most home runs during each US presidential administration over the years.
According to its data, Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels hit the most home runs during President Donald Trump’s current term while Albert Pujols from the Angels and formerly from the St. Louis Cardinals hit the most home runs during President Barack Obama’s eight years in office.
Pink's Bottom LineInterestingly, according to the data from @MLBRandomStats, Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies hit the most homers during the terms of three different presidents — Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.
One notable takeaway: none of the three top home run hitters from what’s considered baseball’s steroid era — Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire or Sammy Sosa — had the most home runs during any president’s term in office.
Jeremy Pink currently serves as an advisor to companies in media and financial tech. He is former CEO of private-equity backed Broadcast Sports International where he helped lead the company to a successful sale and exit during his tenure there. Jeremy is also a former CNBC television executive in New York, London and Singapore.
The information contained in this communication is strictly for general informational and entertainment purposes and is not meant to be construed as financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. This communication is not a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. I am not a financial advisor or offering professional advice of any kind. Users should not act upon the content or information found within this communication without first seeking professional advice appropriate for their individual situation. Decisions based on information contained in this communication are the sole responsibility of the user, and use of this communication and its contents constitutes an explicit understanding and acceptance of the foregoing disclaimers.
(Newsletter Editor: Karina Pink)