Overnight, the #faceapp challenge has taken the Internet by storm. FaceApp is a photo-editing app that can show you what you’ll look like when you’re older. Simply upload your own picture and you’ll see a shockingly realistic version of yourself in old age. With an Internet firestorm this large, it’s no surprise that brands decided to join in on the social media trend. We decided to do some social research to see how companies chose to take on the FaceApp Challenge!
ASOS
The retail giant ran photos of their clothing models through FaceApp and added a humorous caption.
By participating in this challenge, ASOS is reaching out to their target audience, a younger demographic that is likely aware of the trend. On top of that, the tweeted photos include retail items and prices, which increases the visibility of their products. Well done, ASOS!
Gushers
The sweet and juicy candy brand was not shy with this social media trend. It ran a photo of a man with a Gushers beard through FaceApp to produce this result:
The image gives their product prominent visibility with a humorous touch. On top of that, their caption uses slang (“smack” is used when something is good) that a younger audience can find relatable.
Grown-ish
The name and plot of popular coming-of-age TV series Grown-ish made it a no-brainer for the FaceApp challenge. Although the show follows the adventures of college student Zoey, played by Yara Shahidi, the altered photo shows its cast as mature adults. The play on words uses the popularity of an existing trend to boost the visibility of the series.
YouTube India
YouTube India might just have taken the crown of the FaceApp Challenge.
The tweet’s humorous caption refers to the all-too-familiar habit of saving videos to the “Watch Later” playlist. Like most successful tweets, the joke is short, sweet, and humanizes the brand. On top of that, the tweet features the altered photos of four prominent Indian YouTubers: Jordinian, Harsh Beniwal, Prajakta Koli, and NiharikaNm. Without a doubt, the popularity of these influencers further increases engagement with Twitter fans.
How did we participate?
We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to join in on the fun. As part of our social research, let’s take a look at how some of our very own Synthesio employees might look in a few decades!
Meet Joe, our brilliant Global Operations Manager. Looking good, Joe!
And, our talented Technical Account Manager, Tom! Not bad at all!
What does our social research on this trend mean for marketers?
Here at Synthesio, we love it when users and brands alike join in on trends that are silly, funny, and interesting. We especially like to look at how companies combine viral social media trends with marketing efforts that boost brand image. Not to mention, this was a fun app for us to play around with.
With social media trends coming and going with such speed, it’s vital for companies to identify them as they gain momentum and evolve. The best social research programs should be able to detect trends and surface insights automatically. Learn how.
