Between 2015 and 2022, ATV ER injuries and Facebook monthly active users both grew, correlating at 0.963 across eight data points. The theory that Facebook usage inspires off-road vehicle accidents—perhaps through viral ATV stunt videos—is exactly plausible enough to be dangerous and exactly wrong enough to be a correlation on this website. Both numbers went up over eight years for independent reasons: Facebook because it expanded into developing markets, and ATV injuries because recreational vehicle usage grew alongside disposable income and weekend leisure time.
Facebook grew from 1.5 billion to nearly 3 billion MAUs through developing-market expansion. ATV-related ER injuries grew modestly as recreational vehicle sales increased and outdoor recreation expanded. Both are eight-year upward trends with no shared mechanism.
Eight data points of two growing metrics will produce a strong correlation. The social network and the ATV share only a growth direction and a window.
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Want to learn more about why correlations like “ATV ER injuries” vs “Facebook monthly active users” don't prove causation? Read our guide to statistical thinking.
