Out of this worldwide web

Felix Baumgartner’s 38.6km skydive was a boon for social networks as millions of users shared in the wonder of the moment from their computers, tablets, and phones.

Here’s a look at how the world, via the internet, watched the jump.

As Baumgartner ascended in the balloon, so did the number of viewers watching YouTube’s live stream of the event. Its popularity grew as the moment of the jump drew closer, as people kept sharing links on Twitter and Facebook and websites embedded the stream.

Nearly 7.3 million viewers were watching as Baumgartner sat on the edge of the capsule moments before the jump.

In the US, the opportunity to watch the jump on TV was limited to the Discovery Channel, though more than 40 television networks in 50 countries carried the live feed, organisers said. It was streamed by more than 130 digital outlets.

After Baumgartner landed, sponsor Red Bull posted a picture to Facebook of the daredevil on his knees. In less than 40 minutes, the picture was shared more than 29,000 times and generated nearly 216,000 likes and more than 10,000 comments. Immediately after the jump, Red Bull solicited questions for Baumgartner through Facebook and Twitter, promising to answer three at a post-jump news conference.

During the jump and the moments after Baumgartner landed, half the worldwide trending topics on Twitter had something to do with the jump — pushing past tweets about Justin Bieber and seven National Football League games being played at the same time. Celebrities of all kinds weighed in, including athletes, actors, and high-profile corporate executives.

“It’s pretty amazing that I can watch, live on my computer, a man riding a balloon to the edge of space so he can jump out of it. @TheFuture,” tweeted Wil Wheaton, who acted in popular science fiction series Star Trek: The Next Generation.

“Felix Baumgartner is a boss,” tweeted Jozy Altidore, of the US football team.