The Top 10 Viral Videos of 2006

This is the chart of charts: the most viral videos of 2006, across all categories and all major video sharing sites. Sure, everyone is producing top tens. Sure, you can cut the data any way you like. Or ask your friends. Or you can just list your favourites.

But these are the clips that have - objectively - been talked about the most online. We collected the top 5 instances of each piece of content and added up the number of links to and embeds of each unique video. You can get a more conventional view of all the charts here.

One of the interesting things you can see from the data below is the occasional breakdown of correlation between buzz and viewing behaviour. The Kerry clip has been linked to nearly 40,000 times - nearly twice as many as the next one down - yet viewed less than a million times. In contrast, the most viewed video of the year, Evolution of Dance, has been viewed a staggering 40m times, yet been linked to only a third as many times as the Kerry clip.

1. Kerry Belittles U.S. Troops | 38,710 links | 876,228 views

2. Free Hugs Campaign | 20,829 links | 7,862,099 views

3. White & Nerdy | 17,685 links | 11,085,593 views

4. Worst Burglar Ever | 16,919 links | 2,517,526 views

5. Evolution of Dance | 13,152 links | 39,606,662 views

6. Kiwi! | 13,052 links | 4,662,680 views

7. OK Go - Here It Goes Again | 12,869 links | 12,887,893 views

8. Colbert Roasts President Bush | 10,704 links | 3,020,723 views

9. A Message From Chad and Steve | 8,041 links | 2,142,896 views

10. Guinness World Record for Most T-Shirts Worn at One Time | 7,342 links | 2,508,908 views