In the Twitterverse, the hashtag is used to assist users searching or following a particular topic. When there is breaking news or a popular conversation happening online, a particular hashtag might trend. In Charlottesville, and even nationally, the trial of a UVa student for the murder of a fellow UVa student has been trending with the hashtag of the accused’s last name: #Huguely.
In an appalling twist, a local newsweekly has decided to capitalize on the trend, tweeting the hashtag and connecting it to local restaurant features. A sampling of the offensive tweets appears below.
Brands much bigger than The Hook have tried this technique with disastrous results: Entenmann’s and Kenneth Cole have both tried “hashtag stuffing” making themselves look like complete asses.
Interesting that The Hook is following suit.
What do you think of this practice?
[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/#!/readthehook/status/172392738942234625″]
[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/#!/readthehook/status/172394090284060672″]
[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/#!/readthehook/status/172402617123745792″]