As an avid user of Weibo, China's leading social media platform, I've always been intrigued by its dynamic Hot Search list. Recently, I noticed a new feature called the 'Public Index' integrated into the trending topics section. Curious about its purpose and implications, I delved deeper to understand this addition. What is the 'Public Index'? The 'Public Index' is a metric introduced by Weibo to provide users with a real-time gauge of a topic's popularity. It reflects the collective engagement of users, encompassing factors such as search frequency, discussion volume, and overall interaction rates. Essentially, it's Weibo's way of showcasing what's capturing the public's attention at any given moment. How is the 'Public Index' Calculated? Weibo has designed the 'Public Index' to be a comprehensive measure of user engagement. The calculation involves: Search Heat: The number of times a t...