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Presidential candidates, world poverty and women’s periods
Social Media was debated at the recent ABTA Travel Conference where a panel of experts acknowledged the importance of Facebook and Twitter when dealing with a PR crisis. Whether that is a natural disaster or a country in civil unrest, all agreed that social media monitoring was as vital as monitoring traditional media.
Third world campaigners WATERisLIFE put Twitter complainers in their place this week when they hijacked the hashtag #FirstWorldProblems. After getting fed up of hearing users complain of trivial problems such as the inability to walk and text at the same time or the dilemmas faced when a phone charger doesn’t reach as far as the bed, they decided to get even. Making a mockery of these inconveniences WATERisLIFE created a video putting these issues in stark contrast to third world struggles. The video has become a YouTube sensation and has already received 1.4 million views.
As the US presidential campaigns get in full swing, the second debate showed Facebook and Twitter level pegging as they both scooped a 40% share of voice online, compared to the last debate where Twitter reigned supreme. Maybe Obama and Romney have lost their edge in the Twittersphere?
A skydiver breaking the speed of sound? Could it be true? Seeing is believing – Red Bull Stratos, the event behind Felix Baumgartner’s skydive from the edge of space, reached eight million concurrent views on YouTube, making it the highest-ever concurrent viewing figure on the Google-owned site. If that wasn’t enough there has been in excess of 3.1m tweets posted relating to the event.
And finally, one Facebook user questioned Bodyform’s advertising campaigns suggesting that they were unrealistic. Instead of snubbing his comment Bodyform responded with a viral video where the fictional CEO revealed the truth about periods. A must see for women and men alike.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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