United Airlines Swipes Toddler's Seat & #SpikeTheBeetle Makes Art

By David Erickson | July 6, 2017

Beyond Social Media Show, Episode 193

Co-hosts B.L. Ochman and David Erickson discussed how United Airlines earned even more bad press by selling a toddler’s previously purchased seat; how Hobby Lobby was busted for smuggling artifacts from Iraq and funding ISIS all in one fell swoop; the hilarious Haribo Gold Bears ad featuring childlike executives; Spike the viral beetle artist; the #Ham4All fundraising challenge; the #MyOreoCreation contest; Apple’s Appocalypse video; the Weinermobile companion vehicles; cats in hats; China’s livestream video ban; the GOP’s tactic of blocking constituents on social media; Russia’s cyber psyops playbook; plus great new apps and stats you should know…and much, much more.

Best Digital Cases

#SpikeTheBeetle Artist Goes Viral Overnight

Spike is a Stag Beetle big enough to grab colored pencils and make drawings that go for $100 and up on eBay.

Spike FAQs

he's back, and improving his form.
good luck! pic.twitter.com/6v0CpdJVQP

— Spike & Friends (@SpikeTheBeetle) July 4, 2017

Some posts have had to be moved around, so here again: Spike's very first piece ever. please be nice to him. pic.twitter.com/IIhOVI0POE

— Spike & Friends (@SpikeTheBeetle) July 6, 2017

Gummi Bears Aren’t Just For Adults

A Haribo Gold Bears commercial demonstrates that candy isn’t just for kids.

Broadway Supports Lin-Manuel’s #Ham4All Fundraising Challenge

Donate $10, sing a song from Hamilton, challenge two other people to do the same to benefit 12 charities that help immigrants. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s brilliant challenge goes viral.

Broadway Comes Out In Support for Lin-Manuel’s #Ham4All Fundraising Challenge

The @MissSaigonUS Tams take on the #Ham4All challenge. #Tam4Ham #Regram: @heynessie pic.twitter.com/9zGrajBTNv

— Miss Saigon (@MissSaigonUS) June 29, 2017

https://twitter.com/Phillipasoo/status/880626355431497732

Appocalypse

Catastrophes await a world without apps.

Apple Imagines A World Without Apps And How Utterly Screwed We’d Be Without Them

Oscar Mayer’s New Weinerfleet + Drone

The new fleet of Weinermobiles includes Wienermini, Wiener Rover, Wienercycle and of course, a Wienerdrone. “Going where other hotdogs can’t – to get to you.”

LEGO Oscar Meyer Weinermobile

#MyOreoCreation

A real-life social media contest story.

Let's hop on the train and get wit Cold Brew flavored Oreos…. #MyOREOCreation #contest

— America’s Most Topped Bottom (@notthecartho) June 6, 2017

Dark chocolate chili pepper 🍫🌶 #MyOreoCreation #Contest #yum

— Karen (@KarenRoshay) June 12, 2017

THIS: Carmelized Brown Sugar & Cayenne Peppers #MyOreoCreation #Contest pic.twitter.com/r2HxBmcCX2

— David Erickson #BLM (@derickson) July 7, 2017

Hats for Cats

There will be many things on this page that you will want but do not need.
These include hats for cats, turtles and birds, and scores of other useful goodies.

This Is Why I’m Broke

Worst Digital Cases

China Bans Livestreaming

As part of a crackdown on political discourse online, China is banning livestreaming altogether.

Fed Up With Moderation, China Bans Livestreaming

United Airline Steals From Children

Literally! A toddler was forced from his seat because the airline sold his seat.

United Airlines Forces Mom To Hold Child On Lap For 3-Hour Flight

Hobby Lobby Smuggles Artifacts From Iraq, Accused of Supporting ISIA

Without Representation

Blocking constituents who disagree with them appears to a nationwide tactic among Republican elected officials.

https://twitter.com/IndivisibleCD4/status/863164963971416065

#BevinBlocked
Journalists in Kentucky, why not ask .@GovMattBevin why he is blocking so many people? pic.twitter.com/DFphhRM6QG

— Kentucky Democrats (@KyDems) May 19, 2017

Russia’s Cyberwarefare Playbook

NATO has published a handbook on Russia’s tactics for undermining democracies.

Handbook Of Russian Information Warfare

Shiny New Stuff

UZoom.me

Streaming platform where you can earn money by building an audience.

Muzzle

Silence those pesky notifications that pop up while you are screen sharing on your Mac.

Muzzle App

Augmented Reality Sneakers

Japanese footwear giant Onitsuka Tiger has teamed up with fashion label Anrealage to produce what is quite possibly the first pair of augmented reality sneakers in the world. Don’t get too excited about them yet.

Membership WordPress Plugin

Create membership websites, accept payments, and control which uses see what content.

MemberPress

RE:NEW is a wellness portal combining apps & podcasts using virtual reality for meditation, mindfulness & more http://renewvr.com/

Projects

The Pros & Cons Of Twitter Advertising – A blog post David wrote for his agency’s site