Freedom of tweet

Although the concept of super injunctions took place in the 80’s, their technological existence only took place a decade ago. Today commercialized stories and numerous publications fill the internet which made it necessary for the ‘Freedom of tweet, Censorship, Government, Marketers and the law’ event to take place during London’s social media week.

Ryan Gigg’s story about Twitter proves the challenge that we are facing in the legal framework. Although Gigg’s phoned his lawyer to stop information coming out on him in the attempt to protect his family, news still escalated around Twitter, and stories were still published in newspapers around the world and in Scotland.

When Gigg’s tried to stop the stream of gossip international laws made it difficult to do so as Twitter has no presence within the UK. What this means is that we are moving away from an era of print media and publishers (which could withhold information on celebrities with super injuctions) to a modern day era where we have to believe all types of different shapes and colours of opinion.

This is the challenge we are facing. Everyone can be a publisher and how successful they are depends on what they write. Everyone has a voice within the social sphere so it is difficult for the law to determine if tweeters are breaching the court orders or if in fact they are just generating a conversation?

It has become so difficult for the law to move quickly enough and keep up with online developments to resolve the cases involved with it, that instead of advising celebrities to take out a super injunction and guarantee amenity, they should advise PR expertise to help generate good news. We cannot stop people talking.

Since the London riots, there has been adequate legislation put into place to address the challenges that are coming out, but the main challenge seems to be the Judiciary. They are not literate enough to understand Twitter and they do not know when to treat it as a joke or as a serious issue.

What we as publishers should consider is that we are in a generation where we need to stay in-the-know. If the UK government had adopted the Egypt internet censorship legislation during the riots would we have been happy? The answer is probably not.

All of us rely upon citizen journalism and information from various sources that we need freedom of speech on the internet.

However, as Twitter continues to grow internationally, the UK government have decided to filter tweets, in order to withhold content from users in specific countries. What do you think about filtering tweets? Do you think this regulation causes underlying concern for freedom of speech?

Kitkat's ' £6m 'choose a chunky champion' campaign...

I was really impressed with Kitkat's latest TV advertisement which promotes the 'choose a chunky' campaign.

Kitkat have created 4 new LIMITED EDITION flavours and are asking consumers to vote their favourite flavour to stay permanantly. This is such a tactful campaign in encouraging existing customers to purchase all flavours before they vote, and it offers the opportunity to attract additional customers.

What the Kitkat brand have done here is engage consumers via TV advertisement and accustomed them to have their say via social media, therefore it is directing consumers to their Facebook page, which in effect is likely to cause more 'likes' and more interaction with the other Facebook posts.

Graham Walker, Nestlé UK Trade Communications Manager, said:

“With consumers increasingly looking to have their say in the future of their favourite brands, the Kit Kat Choose a Chunky Champion event is well timed."

The voting will close and the new chunky edition will be collated on the 24th February! Get Voting: http://www.facebook.com/kitkatuk

What do you think about the campaign? Is crowdsourcing the future for brands?

When hashtags go wrong!

The #McFail

McDonalds recently launched their Twitter hashtag campaign ‘#Meetthefarmers’ in the hope to promote the company’s fresh produce and meat. The fast food chain took the campaign to a wider consumer market with the hashtag ‘#McDstories’. Unfortunately for Mcdonalds tweetsville soon hijacked their original tweet and re-branded ‘#McDstories’ with their less favourable experiences.

  

McDonalds hashtag is a brilliant example on the bad effect social media can have on a brand if they are not carefully planned. ‘#McDstories’ lost control within one hour, which suggests McDonalds did not consider that they are a company that strongly divides opinion and not everyone likes their food. It is not about their brand- but their consumers.


This is #Nuts!

The same can be said about the Mars owned chocolate bar Snickers, who yesterday sponsored the hashtag ‘#hungry’ for the reason they want to highlight ‘Your not you when your hungry’. But how well did this hashtag trend on Twitter?

When Snickers hijacked Katie Price’s Twitter account it had her 1.5 million followers wondering if she had been hacked! With recent issues in the NOTW (See here) about phone hacking this PR stunt could have gone terribly wrong. Luckily for Snickers they did not generate negative tweets about their brand. 

It just goes to show that when a brand sponsors a hashtag they cannot be controlled, and it can quickly turn into a PR disaster.

What are your thoughts on #hungry and #McDstories? PR fail or success?

The WIKIPEDIA BLACKOUT!!!

Everyone trying to access the online encyclopedia WIKIPEDIA will see this message today:

 "Imagine a world without free knowledge.'

The 24 hour blackout has been done in protest against US legislation laws SOPA, which stands for 'Stop Online Piracy Act' and PIPA 'Protect IP act' in the aim to stop online piracy. It is believed that this blackout will open the door to internet censorship, and prevent future misinterpretations online.

Usually we visit Wikipedia for facts, but this online publicity stunt, instead gives us fears not facts. SOPA and PIPA may be aiming for users to look elsewhere for information, but this is going to cause negative consequences for the speed, stability and security of the internet.

Although Wikipedia have only taken the English- language content offline, and the encyclopedia is still available on smart phones and mobile devices, which makes me think the 24 hour blackout is a way to generate awareness not to prevent damage to the website and limit peoples access to online information.

In my opinion a more powerful protest would have been to close the URL without any acknowledgment and justification. However instead we are all aware that Wikipedia is 'dark for a day'... which is not a drastic movement and it is not a frightening precedent.

Please contribute to charity's!

Casually having a flick through the local newspaper...violence, crime and more crime...until  'Wrapping is big success'- certainly a story that warmed my heart!

In the run up to Christmas, Centre:MK provided a gift wrapping service, located just outside Debenham's in Midsummer Place.

 'MKnews' suggests it was a voluntary service aimed to raise money for 'Advantage Africa'. An organisation that helps people affected by AIDS in Kenya and Uganda.

 £7100.00 was raised!! 


Since 1981- 25 million have died from AIDS.


Before you pay too much attention to mainstream media, in the controversial truth, and you start to think you don't want to contribute to charities think otherwise!!!

Third world countries have lack of health care and have a higher chance of death.

We are now approaching a modernized social economic future, that we are able to provide people with health care, during AID pandemics.

Please contribute to the next charity you see and provide the less fortunate with the best care possible.

If you are interested in being a volunteer for next year's voluntary gift wrapping service please contact jackiegiftwrap@btinternet.com. Alternatively take a look at http://www.volunteermk.org.uk/

Why should you utilize social media for real life marketing??

I previously blogged 'does Gemma like this' where I shared my views about liking a brand on Facebook. I was not convinced that liking a particular brand would help generate sales for that brand, however after research on the brand 'Heineken', my view slightly changed...

Heineken have over 2 million likes. They have successfully demonstrated the importance of building an online community, and how it benefits the brand by engaging and interacting with their fans.

Once Heineken achieved 1 million likes they carried out what I call 'real life' marketing by sending 'Heineken huggers' around Amsterdam to hug strangers!

Seems ob surd right? But imagine if this was you... you are encountering a real life experience with someone in a Heineken t-shirt that you can only relate to the Heineken brand in a positive manner.

Well a similar thing happened with Ikea....

100,000 people liked the 'Have a sleepover in Ikea' page, so Ikea decided to  grant 100 lucky winners their wish. Ikea hosted a sleepover at its Essex store giving customers a once in a lifetime opportunity! Again imagine if this was you... 

Guests were welcomed by 'The only way is Essex' celebrity; Sam Faiers, and given a goody bag containing eye masks, snacks, towels and slippers. A sleep expert was also on hand to give advice on how to test a mattress- All of which help promote the products and services of Ikea.

 <Click here to watch the footage>

This real life marketing proves that Ikea was listening to what their customers want. As a business in the 21st century Ikea are privileged to have a platform like social media, in order to interact with consumers, and improve their marketing strategies. 

Absolutely Fantastic Ikea! Get Liking for the next PR event...

What is Christmas about?

Another year we come together to celebrate Jesus's birthday, but for many, that reasoning didn't enter their mind. Christmas has become such a commercial holiday, and an even bigger anti-climax for thousands of people globally.

I spent the joyous 12 days before Christmas thinking of the perfect gift for those closest to me. I walked around the shops to be bombarded with gift ideas and I felt obliged to buy so much! Is a traditional Christmas jumper not enough any more? ...

...Apparently not! My friends brother, aged 7, got an Xbox! I know I was privileged to be spoilt by so many fabulous clothes, shoes and make-up, but I am now at that age to appreciate the pleasure of spending festivities with family, that I get saddened by people wanting a Christmas purely for presents.

All that expenditure and we wonder why we are facing a recession?  Today Selfridge's department store in central London took in £1.3 million in the first hour! What does this tell you? People do not understand Christmas, and do not know what to do with themselves staying indoors. I think this year high street retailers posed serious competition with online retailers, because I'm sure some consumers even shopped from home!

Why on earth are people not at home, eating leftovers, and cherishing the moment with their families/ friends? The modern-day Christmas seems to be all about the 'social' and 'economic' factors. Advertising and media industries must have an absoloute field day using the word 'Christmas'.

If everyone was at home Boxing day would not be considered the 'busiest shopping day of the year', and crowds of people would not have made it easy for someone to be stabbed to death in Central London today.

Pic Via Daily Mail.

Reports via Daily Mail suggest it was a 'suspected row over a pair of trainers'. Shocking.

It disheartens me that I have to leave Boxing day with a negative post but it would mean a lot for me if everyone thinks twice about certain days of the year. Valentines Day, Birthdays, Easter and even alternative religious holidays. Remember to make more of an effort and spend more time with your loved ones, because the way the world is going, we are not guaranteed to have them forever.

My love goes out to the victims family. We can only hope and pray for a better 2012. Be appreciative of the mornings God wakes you up :)