March For Our Lives Video & Voice Activated Pokemon

By David Erickson | March 4, 2018

Beyond Social Media Show, Episode 219

BL and David discuss the March For Our Lives PSA video; NECTAR Sleep’s sleep like a baby television commercial; Izod Lacoste’s cause marketing campaign of replacing the iconic crocodile with threatened species; the 157 new emojis that will be released this year; the voice-activated Pokemon, Pikachu Talk; Eli Rezkallah’s reversed sexist ads; the arrival of the Twitter bookmarks feature; historian Michael Beschloss’ use of Twitter; an excellent infographic example from HubSpot; an unfortunate rap video by Utah state representatives; Twitter’s prohibition against simultaneous tweets; LittleThings Facebook algorithm problem; Maine’s emoji activists; and much, much more.

SUBSCRIBE: iTunes or Google Play or Stitcher or iHeart Radio or search Amazon Echo or the Spotify app.

Best Digital Cases

Parkland Students’ PSA for #MarchForOurLives

The Parkland students are channeling their grief for activism. And this video hits right between the eyes.

https://www.facebook.com/marchforourlives/videos/1611366682274503/

Sleep Like A Baby

Nectar Sleep took their customer reviews and put them to use in this clever television commercial.

After a While Crocodile

Izod Lacoste released a limited-edition polo collection where threatened species hold the crocodile’s spot. It sold out in minutes @$150 per shirt.

New Emojis

After months of deliberation, Unicode — the consortium responsible for choosing the new emojis across all platforms — has approved 157 new emojis, which will arrive on phones sometime later this year.

Pokemon Gets Alexa & Snapchat

If you haven’t been paying attention to the marketing implications of voice-enabled platforms: listen up.

Reversed Sexist Ads

Eli Rezkallah is a 31-year-old visual artist/photographer who recently created a photo series entitled, “In a Parallel Universe” that reimagines sexist ads from the mid-20th century with the gender roles reversed.

Last Thanksgiving, I overheard my uncles talk about how women are better off cooking, taking care of the kitchen, and fulfilling “their womanly duties”. Although I know that not all men think that way I was surprised to learn that some still do, so I went on to imagine a parallel universe, where roles are inverted and men are given a taste of their own sexist poison. “In a parallel universe” is a series of fictional images, recreated from real ads in the mad men era, that question modern day sexism: showing it through a humorous light to spark a conversation through role play – a conversation that we need to have, uncles. Check the rest of the project on my website (link in bio) @plastikstudios 2018 #timesup #elirezkallah

A post shared by Eli Rezkallah (@elirezkallah) on Jan 21, 2018 at 10:46am PST

A post shared by Eli Rezkallah (@elirezkallah) on Jan 21, 2018 at 11:23am PST

A post shared by Eli Rezkallah (@elirezkallah) on Jan 21, 2018 at 11:00am PST

Correction of the Week

The subtitle might be “why you should not fire or lay off your copy editors.

Twitter Bookmarks

The latest update also comes with more ways to share content, making it possible to send a Tweet via direct message or off of Twitter.

Twitter’s new Bookmarks feature lets you save Tweets without having to like or retweet them

Branding A Historian

Historian Michael Beschloss is a Twitter rock star.

Michael Beschloss on Twitter

Abraham Lincoln’s handwritten inaugural appeal, today 1861, to “the better angels of our nature”: pic.twitter.com/RNHSC34tLQ

— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) March 4, 2018

Andrew Johnson became the first President of the United States to be impeached, 150 years ago tomorrow: pic.twitter.com/8ErwIhlpA5

— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) February 23, 2018

New York Times, today 1974: “Federal Grand Jury Indicts 7 Nixon Aides on Charges of Conspiracy on Watergate”: pic.twitter.com/RABZmnigdJ

— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) March 2, 2018

Smart Example Of How To Do An Infographic

This HubSpot post is a very smart example of how to design an infographic for maximum effect.

Worst Digital Cases

Utah State Representatives Make Worst Rap Video Ever

For some unfathomable reason, Utah’s Republican-controlled House of Representatives released a video ostensibly meant to educate citizens about how a bill becomes a law, set to the beat of Will Smith’s “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” theme.

Utah’s Republican-controlled House of Representatives made a rap video. Send help.

If you live in Utah and realize that the least problematic part of this "rap video" is every Utah state legislator's lack of flow, please #runforsomething. We will help you. ➡️ https://t.co/FV2jtFToDY https://t.co/Xa7HQyh2ha

— Run for Something (@runforsomething) March 2, 2018

Twitter’s Simultaneous Tweet Prohibitions

Twitter’s prohibitions against simultaneous tweets is a good measure to combat Russian trolls but it wreaking havoc on good actors, as well.

Automation and the use of multiple accounts

Twitter Cracks Down on Bots and Automation https://t.co/qpfDsuoUeY https://t.co/gXhSwewBhi

— Social Media Examiner (@SMExaminer) February 23, 2018

Facebook’s Algorithm Has Wiped Out a Once Flourishing Digital Publisher

The media industry’s worst fears about Facebook’s latest, huge algorithm tweak are coming true.

https://twitter.com/lmoses/status/96862443433983180

Emoji Activists

Maine residents took umbrage at an anatomically incorrect lobster emoji.

Lobster Emoji Gets Two More Legs Following Design Complaints

Shiny New Stuff

Feedless

Feedless app Takes the News Feed Out of Social Media. It’s 21 year-old inventor, Ryan Orbuch, is on his 3rd company. He won an Apple Design Award at age 16.

Feedless

30 Second Fact Checks

Michael Caulfield has put together a simple 30-second how-to video for fact checking news.

How To Fact-Check An Article in 30 Seconds

Google Chrome Song Maker

To make a song, add notes by clicking the grid. Then, share your song with a link. You can also use a MIDI keyboard or sing a note into your mic.

Song Maker

Google’s Ad Experience Report

A tool to ensure your ads don’t get blocked.

Projects

Funwalkers – Funny License Plates will be featured in a monthly national gift guide for Father’s Day and Mother’s Day.