September. What a month it’s been.
As we head into October’s line-up of pumpkin-spiced everything, culturally appropriative Halloween costumes and premature Christmas decoration, we take a look back at this past week’s social media #WINS and #FAILS that bring September to a sensational close.
All Hail the Queen (of Instagram)
Selena Gomez has only gone and made Instagram history.
Despite not being active on the app since August, the Disney Channel actress-turned-singer is the first celebrity to reach 100 million (!) followers. 100. Million. Let’s just take a moment to process that.
That’s more than ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber’s 77 million fangirls. That’s more than ‘Queen B’ Beyoncé’s 85.4 million booty-shaking devotees.
Despite not being able to tell you the title of a single song she’s released, our hats go off to her total social media domination.
Hillary Trumps Trump
As the eyes of the world turned to the 2016 U.S. presidential election this past Monday, the war of words didn’t end there. In the aftermath of the debate (or spectacle, arguably), Hillary took to twitter to throw even more shade at opponent Donald Trump, tweeting:
"I never said that." —Donald Trump, who said that. #debatenight https://t.co/6T8qV2HCbL
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 27, 2016
An extremely witty Clinton Campaign intern or Hillary herself, no one can deny that this was pure brilliance.
In amongst the sea of Twitter reactions following #debatenight, one in particular took the cake:
Hillary Clinton belongs in the White House. Donald Trump belongs on my show.
— Jerry Springer (@jerryspringer) September 27, 2016
We don’t know what’s better — Jerry Springer’s not-so-subtle insult or his impeccable choice of profile picture.
Very British Problems
When #AwfullyBritishOffences began trending on Twitter, Britons came together to show their solidarity with, well, awfully British offences.
Like this one:
#AwfullyBritishOffences saying "I think thats right" when you pay with the exact change even though you counted it 3 times and know it is
— NORMAL IS NOT A SIZE (@not_gary_riddle) September 25, 2016
And this one:
Insisting your haircut is lovely even though you hate it because you don't want to offend the hairdresser. #AwfullyBritishOffences
— Oonagh (@Okeating) September 25, 2016
(Happened one too many times…)
Oh, to be British.
Do Not Disturb
In a gallant effort to get more Londoners talking to one another on their daily commute, enthusiastic American Jonathan Dunne took to Old Street station during Thursday’s morning rush hour to hand out ‘Tube Chat?’ badges. They were not well received.
In response to Jonathan Dunne trying to undermine the fabric of this (very antisocial) society, Londoners of the Twittersphere articulated their absolute disbelief:
If someone comes near me with a #tube_chat badge. pic.twitter.com/TO0FBeyyQg
— Elliot Hackney (@ElliotHackney) September 29, 2016
I spoke to someone on the tube once. I said "please stop talking to me". #tubechat
— GlennyRodge (@GlennyRodge) September 29, 2016
Even BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine felt terrorised:
Anyone comes near me with one of these, I’m heading out the window
(via @JamesLiamCook) pic.twitter.com/0GkFrVYmG0— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) September 29, 2016
If there was one thing that came out of this truly unnerving campaign, it was this:
the only #tube_chat badge I need pic.twitter.com/mxJ0pxHd2P
— Ruby (@rubyl0ve) September 29, 2016
@TfL, we actually wouldn’t mind you spending taxpayer money for these to happen.
When AutoScheduling Goes Wrong
A #WINS and #FAILS blog would not be complete without a disastrous (and hilarious) fail. Cue Women’s Weekly and their automated tweet nightmare.
When their social media publishing tool malfunctioned, the Australian magazine’s string of bizarre, link-less tweets began to read like someone’s aunt on one too many white wine spritzers:
Nobody at the Women's Weekly has noticed that their automatic tweet program "Adobe® Social" has stopped including links to their stories pic.twitter.com/Bf6cLg2f3o
— Ti Butler 💎 (@tibutler) September 28, 2016
The magazine have since deleted all traces of their faux pas. Cone of shame, anyone?