In The News - Mashable best infographics

19 of the Best Infographics From 2010

By Zachary Sniderman

Research can sometimes be a bit of a chore, but when knowledge is wrapped up in charts, cartoons, or even some heart-holding robots, suddenly “information” isn’t such a scary word.

What do Facebook‘s 500 million users look like? Who’s suing whom in the mobile world? How does FarmVille stack up against actual farms? These questions and more are answered in the infographics below.

Have a look through the list and let us know which graphics you liked best (or learned the most from) in the comments below.

• Time-Lapse Twitter Visualization Shows America’s Moods [VIDEO]
  A group of researchers from Northeastern and Harvard universities have gathered enough data from Twitter to give us all a snapshot of how U.S. residents feel throughout a typical day or week.
• Facebook’s 500 Million Members [INFOGRAPHIC]
  The illustration breaks down the demographics of Facebook’s burgeoning population (according to their own data on the service), and explores the international makeup of the site.
• The Social Media Impact of “Jersey Shore” [INFOGRAPHIC]
  With the premiere of MTV’s “Jersey Shore” come and gone, we can now analyze the impact of the show on our favorite social media sites.
• What Types of People Raise Money for Web Startups? [INFOGRAPHIC]
  Venture capital investment can be crucial for getting a company off the ground. But who are the entrepreneurs that receive funding for their startups?
• The Rise of Text Messaging [INFOGRAPHIC]
  Did you know that 14-17 year-old girls in the U.S. send an average of 100 texts each day? Check out this infographic for more interesting SMS stats and facts.
• Facebook Privacy: 6 Years of Controversy [INFOGRAPHIC]
  The release of Facebook Places raised serious privacy concerns for users of the social network. Check out this infographic that traces the history of Facebook’s privacy snafus.
• “FarmVille” vs. Real Farms [INFOGRAPHIC]
  Have you ever wondered how virtual farming and actual farming stack up? Do humans produce more virtual crops than real ones? We’ve harvested all the interesting data for you here.
• Social Good: Charity and Technology in the Online Universe [INFOGRAPHIC]
  How has social media giving changed over the last few years? How does it compare with traditional non-profit campaigns? Check out our infographic for some perspective.
• What People Think About America’s Most Pressing Matters [INFOGRAPHIC]
  An infographic created by creative agency JESS3 asks, “What are the nation’s most pressing issues?” and displays the answers from 1,671,267 citizens.
• Connected TV: The New Battle for Your Living Room [INFOGRAPHIC]
  Apple TV, the Boxee Box, and Roku are finally bringing web entertainment to the living room. How do these products stack up? Check out this detailed price and feature comparison chart.
• The Tangled Web of Lawsuits in Mobile [INFOGRAPHIC]
  Who’s suing whom in the mobile industry? It can be a tough question to answer, even if you’re closely following all the lawsuits that have been thrown around.

• Survey Shows the Internet Would Have Passed Prop 19
  Prop 19, California’s controversial bid to legalize marijuana, lost at the polls on Tuesday, but if that vote had been up to the wider web of Internetusers, Prop 19 would have passed.
• Social Media’s Impact on the Midterm Elections [INFOGRAPHICS]
  Social media, especially Facebook, had a huge impact on how the U.S. midterm elections were perceived and decided. Here’s a breakdown by the numbers.
• The State of B2B Social Media Marketing [INFOGRAPHIC]
  The vast majority (86%) of B2B businesses use social media for marketing. See how they’re using it, which tools they’re utilizing and what the future holds.
• The Biggest Brands on Facebook [INFOGRAPHIC]
  In the past few years, big brands have started taking social media seriously, and Facebook marketing is a big part of the plan for many companies.
• What Is the Web Thankful For? [INFOGRAPHIC]
  Thankfulfor.com has put together a (surprisingly long) report that details what things people say they are grateful for having in their lives.
• How the World Is Using Cellphones [INFOGRAPHIC]
  The infographic illustrates the number of cellphones per capita in various countries, the rate of cellphone adoption in the U.S. over the past decade and the acceptability of certain behaviors regarding cellphone use.
• Who Will Win the Mashable Awards? [INFOGRAPHIC]
  We’ve broken down a complete list of the finalists by category in one handy (and unicorn filled!) infographic. Make sure you get voting before it’s too late!
• How Connected Devices and Consoles Compare [INFOGRAPHIC]
  As 2010 draws to a close, we’re finally starting to see new and improved connected devices for bringing streaming content to the living room hit the market.