The top social media stories of the year

From political resignations and social justice campaigns to viral GIFs and K-pop

I think we can all agree that 2018 has been, to put it mildly, a hectic year.

With the threat of a no-deal Brexit, the World Cup in Russia, a royal wedding or two and America’s midterm election,s there was plenty to discuss, celebrate and commiserate. Here were some of the biggest moments for The Independent‘s social team, and the online world, this year.

The death of the beloved chef Anthony Bourdain was, according to content intelligence company Chartbeat, the most engaged-with story this year. His sudden passing, the circumstances surrounding his final days and the essential conversations around mental health and depression were inescapable on social media.