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Subscribe to RSSA condom maker's ad agency thought it'd be a swell idea to scare men out of causing unwanted pregnancies by — wait for it — sending them Facebook friend requests from their unborn future offspring.
"Men like a lot of things. But there's something most of them wouldn't like very much," says the narrator in the Olla Condoms ad (above). The next sound you hear: a baby crying.
According to the video, the ad agency identified "some" young men, "created their sons' profile," and sent Facebook friend requests to each of them. The request was from a baby who bore the recipient's very same name — followed by "Jr." A note in the request basically identified it as an ad for the condoms.
But the all-too-clever "Unexpected Babies" social media ad campaign by Brazil's Age Isobar agency appears to be misfiring, so to speak. Even if the requests were sent to just a handful of men, in order to prove the concept, the fallout from the strategy is global.
"No brand shall friend request me, without a lifetime hatred called upon them," hissed "ThomasBigum" on the YouTube page where the video of of the ad is posted.
"Wow, you have officially brought social media advertising down to a whole new low," noted LadyAnne525.
"The behavior is definitely spamming ... but I guess it's more creative than most spam," posted CaeserOct1.
Creative it is. And creating fake profiles for virtual babies of the future sounds like a violation of Facebook's policy.
"Facebook has always been based on a real-name culture ... we believe this leads to greater accountability and a safer and more trusted environment for the people who use our service," said a spokesperson for the social networking site.
"It's a violation of our policies to use a fake name or operate under a false identity, and we encourage people to report anyone they think is doing this."
One way is to go to Facebook's Help Center page on "Report Abuse or Policy Violations."
But the social networking site also has a "dedicated team that reviews these reports and takes action as necessary," the spokesperson said. " We also have technical systems in place to flag and block potential fakes based on name and anomalous site activity."
Either way, it sounds like this ad agency's baby may be abandoned soon.
Related stories:
- Facebook friends could be strangers in disguise, researcher shows
- Now Facebook updates can be over 60,000 characters
- FTC settlement aside, Facebook still owns your privacy
- Facebook makes privacy pledge in FTC settlement
- Buffy the Facebook phone coming?
Check out Technolog, Gadgetbox, Digital Life and In-Game on Facebook, and on Twitter, follow Suzanne Choney.
Leave a Comment:
LOL clever - It may not be wise- but I have not seen this pop up, and yet I hear about it here. Seems thier marketing worked if people are finding out about it, and they were not the target market or intended recipient.
Brilliant use of Farcebook. Far far better than hearing about someone's dinner plans, shopping experience, thoughts while in a traffic jam, or the latest news about a bowel movement. Besides: such a "friend" request is likely preferred over most such requests from total strangers.....
How retarded
A little tasteless if you ask me. The minimum age is 13.
Lots of kids are having sex at 13. Maybe this will make them think about the consequences before they decide to have sex.
But you can't have an account if you're under 13. And these babies ages are in the negative years.
Yep, the internet is the best place for children to learn all about sex.
The evaluation of "tasteless" seems to be based upon age. That's a poor link. Not necessarily valid, but at least requiring further commentary. Better to point out, as has been done in replies, that there is a minimum age and that the advert technically violates that policy.....
I should whine like most of the others plan to do--- but just being honest here, if something like this keeps their mind on the product and effects of not wearing a condom, I say they have objectively fulfilled their goal!
Several types of preservatives??? What is that? Did they perhaps mean prophylactics?
Oh, come on! I think it's kind of clever and funny. I can just picture the look on those poor guys' faces... However, it would probably have been a little more professional on the part of the advert agency to just pretend for the commercial that there was a friend request from a future child, instead of actually doing it to unsuspecting people.
Still funny, though.
This is utterly tacky and tasteless. There are better ways to promote condoms and safe sex that don't involve the violation of FB policy (fake profiles) or spam. A new low in advertising indeed.
A baby would be welcome in my house...
very clever! I have 3 sons....I should do the same thing to them....
I don't have a problem with it at all; how many deadbeat baby daddies are there that are taxing our social systems due to these 'boys' refusing to take responsibility to a child after making a case to not use a condom 'cause it doesn't feel as good'. These incredibly selfish guys are more than happy to help make babies but leave the mothers to fend for themselves and their children, while doing everything they can to avoid paying child support. Privacy vs. taxpayers having to help to support innocent children. All guys need this sent to them ... and not a bad idea to send it to girls either! Nothing like a good reality dose!