Leave it to the internet to turn a simple question into a furious debate. Since July, social media platforms from TikTok to Threads have been tackling a hot new argument: What are the four major cities in the United States?
Arguably, the problem is in the question itself. What does “major” mean anyway? Is it population? Gross domestic product? Tourism? Cultural contributions? And most importantly, for our purposes at least, does San Francisco make the cut?
“Major” lacks a specific definition, leaving it up to the reader’s interpretation. In our unsophisticated analysis across social media platforms, most people agree that New York, LA and Chicago make the top three. But when it comes to the fourth major city, the internet is divided. Houston is the fourth-largest city by population. Washington, D.C., is the country’s capital. Boston is the center of academia. San Francisco, however, especially when referring to the Bay Area, has a fighting chance as a hub for technology and innovation.
When I asked Google, it put Houston as the fourth. ChatGPT spit out the same answer. Our incredibly biased newsroom was surprisingly split, with a few pushing for Miami or Atlanta…