I was on the T today and saw the newest McDonald's poster ad. Nothing surprising about seeing an ad for McD's on the T, what did surprise me was what the ad said. The photo illustrates the "new" third pounder burger and a large container of fries. Above this photoshoped masterpiece in bold white all capital type said the words: "They would friend each other" I couldn't believe my eyes. "Is that a facebook reference?" I started asking myself all these questions... Wow, what has everything come down to? Is facebook really that big of a part of our new culture that McDonald's, is using it it as their advertisement scheme? And all I could answer was: yes! Most people who know what the Internet is know about facebook, especially in my generation, which is the first college generation to have facebook since freshman year (5 years). I remember when I was going into college I got facebook, when it was the hot new thing, and you had to be in a college network to join. Now anyone can join, and peoples parents have facebooks, as well as celebrities, and even our president is on facebook. The site generated so much popularity in 5 years, and is already being considered common knowledge, and being used in a McD's ad.
I would have never even thought twice about this if it wasn't for this class but the media is part of everything. It is really crazy how these trends get so popular so quickly!
These social networking sites are gaining so much attention, their popularity is outstanding! Of course, it makes so much sense. We've become a generation dependent on electronics and new media. Think of how often you jump on the internet, check your mail and even Facebook! This advertisement speaks to so many, not only America's youth but like you said, teachers, parents and even political figures who utilize Facebook.
ReplyDeleteI wish I was Mark Zuckerburg(?) he must be rollinnn' in doe. I agree though, technology has taken over the world and without it people would be lost. I love technology but sometimes I wish I could live before "technology", you know like back in the dayyy.Seems like everywhere you go you see technology and you just can't get away from it, I saw a seven year old with his own cell phone the other day...I didn't even know what a cell phone was when I was seven.
ReplyDeleteThat is so funny. It seems like a lot of companies are using these types of references lately. There was a commercial on recently, I think it was for a brand of breath mints or something, and the guy in the commercial would come in contact with people and either say "friend request accepted" or "DENIED". There was another commercial that talked about social networking sites as well. A cell phone or wireless service commercial maybe? This one involved children frustrated with their parents newfound obsessions with social networking. The father was on twitter through his cell phone, typing "I am sitting on the patio..." and the mother typing frantically, while the daughter says, "just because we're facebook friends doesn't mean you can write I Love You all over my wall". Social networking seems to be popping up in all types of advertisements these days.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that it is somewhat unnerving that companies like McDonald's is going as far as using references to sites like facebook to gain customers, but at the same time it is not surprising one bit. I mean it is something that we all can relate to now that is because I too started college when facebook was just becoming popular and could only be used by college students. A good analogy for this may be how on some sitcoms parents trying acting all cool and hip in from of their kids so that they look cool to their kids friends, but they always just end up embarrassing their kids. In other words companies will go about using what they believe to be the hot thing so that they can draw us in just to make a buck.
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