10 Epic Social Media Fails That Will Make You Cringe
Social media is a double-edged sword that can either make or break a brand image. No matter how meticulously planned a social media campaign is, things can go horribly wrong in a matter of a few seconds. The following 10 epic social media fails will leave you bewildered and make you question the sanity of some social media managers.
1. McDonald’s #McDStories
In 2012, the fast-food giant McDonald’s launched a Twitter campaign that encouraged customers to share their heartwarming memories using the hashtag #McDStories. The intention behind this campaign was to celebrate happy moments created at McDonald’s. However, things didn’t go as planned, and instead, the hashtag was hijacked by people sharing gruesome stories such as finding a fingernail in a burger. The campaign quickly turned into a PR nightmare for McDonald’s.
2. DiGiorno’s #WhyIStayed
In 2014, domestic violence victim advocacy groups created the hashtag #WhyIStayed to raise awareness about domestic violence and encourage survivors to come forward. However, DiGiorno, a frozen pizza brand, jumped on the hashtag bandwagon, unaware of its sensitivity, and tweeted, ” #WhyIStayed You had pizza.” DiGiorno faced severe backlash for trivializing a serious social issue.
3. CelebBoutique’s Aurora Tweet
In 2012, a deadly shooting took place in Colorado’s Aurora town, killing 12 people and injuring many. Still, the fashion brand CelebBoutique tweeted, ” Aurora is trending, which means our Kim K inspired Aurora dress is also trending, yay!” The insensitive tweet led to an uproar on social media, with people calling out the brand’s lack of empathy.
4. US Airways’ NSFW Tweet
In 2014, US Airways tweeted an NSFW image to a customer who complained about a delay in a flight. The tweet contained a graphic image that led to a social media explosion and received the brand nationwide attention for all the wrong reasons.
5. American Apparel’s Hurricane Sandy Sale
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy left a devastating impact on the East Coast and killed numerous people. However, American Apparel found this to be the perfect opportunity to initiate a hurricane sale. The brand tweeted, “In case you’re bored during the storm, 20% off everything for the next 36 hours.” American Apparel’s insensitivity towards natural calamities caused mass outrage, and people called out the brand for its moral bankruptcy.
6. Kenneth Cole’s Egyptian Uprising Tweet
In 2011, Kenneth Cole tweeted, “Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor has it, they heard our new spring collection is now available online.” The tweet was insensitive and inappropriate, especially when the country was dealing with violent protests and political unrest.
7. Click Frenzy’s Glitch
In 2012, Click Frenzy, an Australian online shopping event, experienced a technical glitch that led to its website crashing. As a result, customers couldn’t access the deals, and the event witnessed a decline in sales. Click Frenzy later apologized and extended the event, but the damage was already done.
8. Habitat’s Iran Election Tweet
In 2009, Habitat, a UK-based furniture retailer, tweeted about the Iranian Presidential elections and encouraged its followers to vote for their favorite product. The tweet was widely criticized for being insensitive and failing to understand the gravity of the political situation.
9. Burger King’s Hacked Account
In 2013, Burger King’s Twitter account was hacked, and its brand image was replaced with that of McDonald’s. The hacker also tweeted offensive content that led to Burger King’s social media reputation taking a major hit.
10. JP Morgan’s Twitter Q&A
In 2013, JP Morgan, an American multinational investment bank, initiated a Twitter Q&A to connect with the public. However, things didn’t go as planned, and the hashtag #AskJPM quickly turned into a platform for people to bash the brand for its role in the US financial crisis.
In conclusion, social media has the power to catapult a brand’s reputation, but it can also be the cause of its downfall. Brands need to exercise caution and sensitivity while crafting their social media strategy to prevent such epic failures. A well-planned social media campaign can earn a brand customer loyalty, while a single insensitive tweet can lead to a tarnished image and damage that may take years to rectify.
