The world’s largest experiment in social media is set to begin as millions of fans around the world passionately watch their country compete at the world’s largest sporting event.
The FIFA World Cup 2010 begins on Friday, and already the buzz in the social media world is like no other regardless of how the event plays out off the field.
During the last World Cup in 2006, social networking wasn’t as ever-present as it is in today’s society. YouTube mashups were the extent of social media coverage the event received, but in 2010 expect a constant stream of tweets and social networking commentary that will flood social media networks around the globe.
Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube were in their infancy in 2006. But today bloggers and tweeters are calling the 2010 World Cup the biggest thing to ever hit Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
The FIFA body has not turned a blind eye to this, and have even assigned a “head of new media” person who has taken on the role to promote FIFA’s social-networking service on FIFA.com - called ‘The Club’ - which has 1.6 million members, but the organization is about to make a bigger push into social media. Facebook Connect, which allows Web sites to be shared on Facebook, has been incorporated into FIFA.com and FIFA has launched official Twitter accounts for the World Cup too. There are no specifics but the accounts may include tweets from people in the ‘top echelons’ of FIFA. Could that mean tweets from FIFA president Sepp Blatter himself?
The first social media World Cup....ordinary fans can become instant experts from the comfort of their own living rooms. Being able to engage in matches by voting for the “Budweiser Man of The Match”, live commentary as the games are being played, videos of happenings on YouTube, all of which will be available this time around. One of the tournaments major sponsors Sony Ericsson seems to be focusing all of its advertising dollars on social networking with no evidence of any “traditional” media. Most interesting concept of the bunch, Sony has launched something called the Twitter Cup, where it will pit tweets from countries participating in the World Cup against each other.
Companies worldwide will be watching these experiments closely. Aside from fans, media people and social media junkies tweeting and blogging and status updating, even some players will even be tweeting their adventures during their tournament.
I’m a massive soccer fan, and a social media junkie in the same, but during the nail biting games (when Serbia is on the pitch) surrounded by fellow fans, and the excitement I’m not sure if I’ll be tweeting my feelings or reactions during “real-time”. But post-game I’m sure you’ll see my two cents worth, like it or not.
Facebook too has made an app that ranks soccer passion based on number of “Likes” fans click for their team, divided by the number of Internet users in that country. Is there any statistical significance to the “passion index”, not too sure but it’s a fun way to show your passion and get your friends to join in the experience.
Regardless of who you support, how social media plays out during the World Cup tournament is something that will be an interesting thing to watch.
LINKS
FIFA World Cup: http://twitter.com/fifaworldcuptm
On Facebook: go to Fifa World Cup 2010 South Africa: Vote Your Team, click ‘Like’ to get added to the “passion index.”
Written by Brian
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
