10 Most Horrific Marketing Stories Of 2020

Episode 329 – October 30, 2020

Topics:

1. Uninsured SXSW
2. Randomly Recording Smart Speakers
3. Creepy COVID Masks
4. Vanishing Keyword Data
5. Facebook’s Couples App
6. Facebook’s Stalking Data
7. Ayn Rand’s Hand Out
8. Apple Hijacks Search Traffic
9. Pubic Hair Branding
10. We Are Not Okay

During episode 329, BL and David discuss the ten most horrifying marketing stories they covered in 2020.

WTF?!?

10

No Refunds From SXSW

Blaming “force majeur,” SXSW would not issue any refunds for the cancelled festival.

• SXSW Participation and Credentials Terms and Conditions
• SXSW refusing to issue refunds after being canceled due to coronavirus
• SXSW Refuses to Offer Refunds Despite Event Cancellation

9

Yes, Smart Speakers Are Spying on You

Smart speakers record you more often than you think, according to a new study.

• Alexa records you more often than you think
• Smart Speaker Study- When Speakers Are All Ears

8

Creepy Medical Masks

A producer in Gandhinagar, India, has created a system that allows you to print the bottom half of your own face on to a mask – so when you wear it, it still looks like you.

• You can get your own face printed on a face mask – and it is creepy

7

Google’s Vanishing Keywords

Google has begun alerting advertisers that it will soon stop showing search queries that triggered their ads when there is not “significant” data.

• Google Ads to limit Search Terms reporting, citing privacy

6

Facebook Couples App

The least private platform on the planet launched a “Private” app for couples. What could go wrong?

• Facebook launches an app for couples to talk to each other

5

Stalking Facebook

Facebook launched an Off Facebook Activity Tool that will show you the ways it stalks you, even when you turn off the app on your phone. Change these privacy settings right now!

• Facebook will now show you exactly how it stalks you — even when you’re not using Facebook
• Direct link to Facebook Tracker

4

Atlas Scammed

The Ayn Rand Institute applied for and received a PPP loan.

• In sign of the times, Ayn Rand Institute approved for PPP loan

The Ayn Rand Institute received a PPP loan of between $350K and $1 millionhttps://t.co/EOhMBQh40f— Pat Fitzgerald (@PatFitzgerald23) July 6, 2020

3

Apple Hijacking Search Traffic

Apple is redirecting search engine traffic away from publishers’ sites to its own news app.

• ‘A shady move’: Apple News+ Safari change automatically redirecting traffic to itself infuriates publishers

Woah, I wonder how many publishers in Apple News+ realize that the new iOS14 and MacOS Big Sur are by default intercepting traffic to their sites and sending it to the Apple News app instead. pic.twitter.com/k4PQG9mE7M— Tony Haile (@arctictony) August 10, 2020

2

Public Hair Branding

Canada’s Hell’s Basement and a shop in Wellington both thought the word ‘huruhuru’ meant ‘feather’ – they were wrong.

• Beer brand and leather store unwittingly named after Māori word for ‘pubic hair’

1

We’re Not OK

Researchers are looking at online behavior to gauge public mental health. The results aren’t pretty.

• Is Everyone Doing OK? Let’s Ask Social Media
• According to the words, the news is actually good
• Hedonometer

Smiles

YouTuber Attacked By Fondue

We shouldn’t laugh at his misfortune, but when this YouTuber recovered from flying fondue, he made the best of a bad situation.

• YouTuber attacked by flying cheese fondue in spectacular viral video

Weekly Numbers

Halloween Search Trends

• Google Trends