"A Stretchy Hand" — new sticky viral from Coca-Cola

Go ahead. Do it! Go to astretchyhand.com and tell me you didn't waste a good five minutes (or more) on that sticky little thing.

(That's what she said.)

Naked for Kony

The interest in, and controversy over, the Kony 2012 campaign by Invisible Children has kept social media busy over the past couple of weeks. Intended to increase international pressure to arrest the Ugandan warlord for crimes against humanity by creating a faux camaign"for" Kony, it racked up tens of millions of views in a short time.

It also drew attention to criticisms of the charity, such as claims it distorts the facts, misuses funds, and is homophobic. Plus, Ugandans themselves hated it. And then there was the bizarre arrest of the movement's intoxicated, masturbating, founder.

I've been avoiding blogging about Kony 2012 because I had nothing to add. But then my Facebook friend Kate h. posted this ridiculous pro-Kony video by Bree Olson:



Ms. Olson is an adult performer best known for her association with Charlie Sheen during his "Goddesses" phase.

In case you were unable to sit through more than a few seconds of the video, it features Ms. Olson writhing in various states of undress, interspersed with pictures of sad African child soldiers and title cards (with voiceover) that make the claim the her porno posturing to get attention for the cause is the same thing that Invisible Children did.

That's the old Machiavellian social marketing idea that anything that gets attention is a good thing. But I don't even buy this on that level. It's really a self-serving attempt by a quasi-celebrity to get some borrowed intertest from a phenomenally successful viral campaign.

So she's right: It's nice packaging (borrowed interest) on something (Bree Olson) that wouldn't be an inherently fascinating topic to many people otherwise.

McDonald's attempts to manufacture another meme #shamrocking

Apparently not fazed by the #McDStories hashtag disaster, McDonald's is again attempting to seed its own "grassroots" social media campaign.

This time, it's a sponsored post on Buzzfeed, complete with amateur-looking pictures and a video.

The pitch:

"Have You Tried #Shamrocking Yet?
The Irish jig has been an expression of joy since the 16th century, and thanks to the hot new viral trend of #Shamrocking, it's making a modern day comeback. Check out some of these high-stepping #Shamrockers, then get out there and treat your friends to a shake and make them dance with delight!"

Irish stereotypes aside (since we're used to those in March) this retail appropriation of stupid photo memes like planking, horsemaning and tebowing is just asking for trouble. (Not to mention that the term "shamrocking" already has some disgusting and/or random double-meanings at Urban Dictionary.)



At least, I hope people will subvert this cynical attempt to manipulate people into creating free viral advertising. Otherwise, I may lose a little more faith in humanity.

Update: This story was picked up by AdFreak.

R/GA Presents: The Workplace Sexual Harassment Twitter App #officecupid

What a terrible idea.

R/GA has launched this cute little self-promotional Twitter thing that is bound to get someone in trouble. Anonymous "valentweets" may seem really sweet, until you remember the following rule of the internet:
person + anonymity + audience = total dickwad.

In other words, this could make Mad Men look like a model of appropriate relations between the sexes at work.*

So let's try:

And... nothing. I just got stood up by myself. On Valentine's Day. **sob**

*Here's the TOU:


By using rgaofficecupid.com managed by R/GA ("we" or "us"), you signify that you have read, understand and agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. These Terms of Use may be updated from time to time for any reason. Children under the age of 13 are not permitted to use rgaofficecupid.com. All information and content added, created, uploaded, submitted, distributed, or posted to rgaofficecupid.com and content generated by us ("Content") is your sole responsibility. We will not be liable in any way for any Content. When you participate, you do so at your own risk. We do not guarantee we will be able to fulfill all requests. We may refuse to provide the service to anyone at anytime. You agree to indemnify and hold us, our affiliates, officers and employees exempt from any claim or demand, including reasonable attorneys' fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of the Content. rgaofficecupid.com collects only public Twitter account names and whatever additional information participants choose to provide. This information will not be stored or used for any other purpose. You may contact us at: Harley.Block@rga.com. rgaofficecupid.com is not associated with Twitter. Twitter is a registered trademark of Twitter Inc.

Nicely done, completely twisted viral cartoon ad

The Magic Fun Store is "a small art gallery and  tattoo studio in Tucson, AZ." Now you know who they are. And in a minute, you won't be able to forget them (or unsee these images):



It turns out animation is a side-business at the shop, so they decided to promote themselves with a little ditty about a unicorn who can't get enough dolphin love. This one was done by BAMiAM.tv (B.A. Miale) "a video artist who mashes up her playfully psychedelic visuals in real time on a keytar."

Considering their industry, and the shop's carefree brand, this ought to work out well for them.

Via Illegal Advertising

Is fashion advertising less facile if it lets you know it knows you know it's facile?

Long headline. But the question remains: is this "short film" for fashion magazine Jalouse, starring model Ashley Smith brilliant in its cynical self-referencing commentary by director Matthew Frost?



Or is this just another level of arrogance?

Personally, I found it entertaining. But as a Canadian, I like anyone who can laugh at themselves.

Via Illegal Advertising

F'd Ad Fridays: Norte Photoblocker keeps you safe from being busted on Facebook

A recent study determined that British Facebook users are visibly intoxicated in 76% of the photos they get tagged in on the social network.

This campaign, from Argentina's Norte beer, promotes an individual beer cooler that senses when a smartphone picture is being taken of you and sends a counterflash to destroy the shot with glare.



It's a photo jamming tactic that has been popular with people who want to evade photo radar speed traps. So it is theoretically possible, even if this "innovation" is a gag.

Here's another ad:



Via Ads of The World