NORAD, Christmas Tree Powered by Social Media, Social Network for Couples, Big Fuel | Topics That Are Igniting

Tracking Santa’s Flight: NORAD Continues Tradition Using Social Media

For 50 years, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, better known as NORAD, and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command, have been tracking Santa’s flight for millions of people all around the world. According to NORAD officials, this year using free apps in the Apple iTunes Store and in the Android Market, children and their parents have been able to count down the days until Santa’s takeoff on their smart phones. Tracking opportunities were also offered on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube and Twitter. Santa followers just needed to type “@noradsanta” into any search engine to get started.


Christmas Tree Lights Powered by Social Media

Toronto-based Sysomos used their Heartbeat platform, used to monitor social media in real time, to power a 30 foot tall Christmas tree. The team came up with a list of 50 Christmas keywords, in French and English, such as “Santa,” “Christmas,” and “elf” for the platform to recognize and analyzed the sentiment of the messages using those words. From there all the positive mentions were sent through an API to a machine designed to turn the social media Christmas data into a spectacular light show.


A Social Network for Couples Only

VCNC, a South Korean company founded by five developers, has introduced its latest app, “Between,” a social network targeting couples who want to spend their time online with just each other. Between targets mainly Asian users and works on a mobile platform. It allows users to build a private archive by entering the phone number of their significant other into the app. While the customers appreciate the privacy, VCNC, like any other social networking company, likely hopes to earn money from them. The couples are likely a strong customer base to attract advertisers marketing products and services for couples, such as vacations, gift ideas and more.


GM Drops Big Fuel As Social Media Agency

After a short, year-long relationship, General Motors dropped Big Fuel as its social media agency of record. Director of GM Product and Brand, Pat Morrissey, says the move was in no way connected to the performance of the campaigns the agency managed and created. The decision was merely part of an agency review and was made in an effort to reduce complexity. GM now plans to let existing agencies assume responsibility for social media campaigns for each brand. However, a Big Fuel representative told Ad Week it would be subcontracted by two agencies to continue managing two of GM’s brands on social media.



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