I have outlined the potential perils of social media in the past, usually when it comes to Twitter chats. I am by no means a social media expert. I don't claim to be one. But anyone with even a lobotomized brain would know that hosting a Tweet chat with Robin Thicke would be like throwing a gazelle to a pack of lions and telling them to play nice.
So clearly the lack-of-brain-trust that pulled together the Tweet chat with the hashtag #AskThicke had something else in mind when they organized this. But, in a move that surprised absolutely nobody, their plans went awry when Twitter users flooded the Tweet chat with questions about Thicke's misogyny, future rape-baiting hits he has planned and generally what makes him such a clown. The team running the chat lost control within the first few minutes.
Some of the best Tweets:
- Is the creepy stalking thing a sick publicity stunt at your ex's expense, or just a thoughtless grab for attention and relevance?#AskThicke
- When you ask "I know you want it", one presumes you are talking about an STD? #askThicke
- What does it feel like to be an icon for sexism, predatory behaviour and sexual assault? #AskThicke
And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Even though I have outlined some other fails on my blog before, I think that this one has to jump to the top of the list for "worst social media blunders ever."
The moral of the story is this: when you are planning any kind of social media activity, you must consider all of the potential ways it could get out of control. When you open these conversations up to the public, you run the risk of other parties taking charge of the situation. Carefully weigh whether or not the return from the activation is greater than the risk. If it is even close, identify a new strategy.
