Why a Thai mall is the world's most Instagrammed place

THE world's most popular place to take an Instagram snap isn't a famous landmark or even a top tourist destination. Find out why a Thai mall took the top spot.

Smile. The Siam Paragon mall in Bangkok is the world's most popular place on Instagram. Sourc...

WHAT'S the world's most Instagrammed place? The Eiffel Tower, perhaps? Nope. It's not Times Square and it's not even Disneyland. We'll give you a hint: it's a mall and it's in Bangkok.

Photo-snapping app Instagram revealed its list of most shot locations around the world in 2013 and a Thai shopping centre took top honours, beating famous landmarks and top tourist destinations.

It's not the first time a Bangkok destination has claimed top spot, last year it was the Bangkok International Airport that took home bragging rights. This year, it's the Siam Paragon mall - a mega-sized luxury shopping centre complete with IMAX cinema, Southeast Asia's largest aquarium and hotel. Impressive, but it's hardly the Magic Kingdom. So how has this place totally killed it when it comes to Insta popularity?

It comes down to a number of factors, but the biggest factor is Thai personality, and it seems the Thais are a social bunch. Statistics last year showed that the city with the most Facebook users was Bangkok.

Clearly the need to share has transferred to the mobile platform and what better place to snap than the mega mall everyone congregates at. It's a massive social hub with ideal conditions for a quick selfie with mates and plenty of pictures with ice creams and the mall's giant stuffed animals.

Instagram user Bernardpoh grabbing a quick pic. He's just one of many. Source: Instagram

And who's going to be taking all these? It's not likely to be nan and grandad. A survey by Yozzo found that 72 per cent of Thailand's mobile phone users are below the age of 24 - prime Instagram target audience and a contributing factor to the high number of Insta pics at the Siam Paragon mall.

In the last year there has been an increased migration to smartphones as prices continue to drop due to increased competition in the market. Gfk found that Bangkok holds the most number of smartphones in the whole of Thailand and in the first four months of 2013 handset sales increased by three times from the previous year.

Also, 3G, the mobile data service, only launched this year, which has made accessing the internet on mobile phones a lot easier. Hence all the sharing.

So piecing this together like a poor man's Columbo it is clear why this not-so-arbitrary mall in Bangkok is the most Instagrammed place in the world.

Here are some other interesting Instagram results from 2013 …

Most Instagrammed places:

1. Siam Paragon shopping mall, Bangkok, Thailand

2. Times Square, New York, NY, USA

3. Disneyland California, USA

4. Bellagio Fountains, Las Vegas, NV, USA

5. Disney World Florida, USA

6. Staples Centre, Los Angeles, CA, USA

7. Central Park, New York, NY, USA

8. Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA, USA

9. Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok, Thailand

10. The High Line, New York, NY, USA

Most Instagrammed cities:

1. New York City, NY, USA

2. Bangkok, Thailand

3. Los Angeles, CA, USA

4. London, UK

5. São Paulo, Brazil

6. Moscow, Russia

7. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

8. San Diego, CA, USA

9. Las Vegas, NV, USA

10. San Francisco, CA, USA