Wetherspoons Madness? What the Flip is Going On?
Yesterday UK pub chain Wetherspoons shut down over 900 social media accounts. Last year they deleted around 700,000 emails. Maybe more. So what the flip is going on?
Here are three options.
Option One: They are making a stand against the disruptive and negative addictive force of social media.
This is the face value interpretation. It has resonated with many normal people (Wetherspoons' customers amongst them) And it has caused uproar amongst social media consultants who perceive a personal attack.
Hat's off! It's a brilliant story.
Like it or lump it, there is a growing swell of disaffected social media users. We're switching off alerts. We're starting to take a step back and think: is this really the best use of our time? The announcement taps into that. So smart move!
But for any commercial organisation to turn it's back on 700,000 emails and 900 social media accounts because it feels like the right thing to do? That's plain weird! Just bizarre.
Especially when the commercial organisation concerned sells a disruptive and addictive liquids. Pot? Kettle? Black?
Sorry. Not buying it.
Theory trust rating: 5/10
Option Two: They were just really bad at social media and had a hissy fit
They just don't get it. Wetherspoons social media contribution has been utterly tedious. Self-serving diatribe of promotional garbage. In fact, coming off social media has been is the most interesting thing that they have done.
So was it true that they were so bad they just capitulated?
Social media experts like to think so.
Theory trust rating: 7/10
Option Three: CONSPIRACY THEORY! They've allegedly been naughty with their customer data
A fascinating new twitter account has been apparently started by the in house social media team that got the bullet yesterday. NB This of course could be a spoof account set up by a Wetherspoons' competitor to put the boot in?
I love a good conspiracy theory. And so do apparently the axe-grinding job-seeking twitter account formerly know as the Wetherspoons' social media team. Some journalists are picking up on it too.
So, the alleged theory allegedly goes that some allegedly unethical access was historically allegedly gained to Wetherspoons data in the hope of allegedly influencing voters. There's a focus of interest on the Brexit vote.
The Wetherspoons boss is a vote leave guy. That's unambiguous and true. Not alleged.
But this alleged unethical access has all now allegedly caught up with them. And they need to allegedly obliterate the alleged tracks.
Theory trust rating: 8/10
Visual Communicator: I create images that humanize brands and distinguish them from competitors. You have to get noticed before you can gain someone's trust.
6 年Awkward situations often inspire great quips. You've come up with a classic, sir-- well done! => "There are still an alarming number of smart people that swallow the face value stories PR people push out. I can't decide whether, as PR consultant, I'm delighted or dismayed!" ??????