Social media round-up

The clock has almost struck twelve on the countdown to world’s greatest sporting event (we’re not an official sponsor so we hesitant to say the ‘O’ word) and lo and behold the sun has decided to make an appearance! The corporates have taken over the athletes village, the VIPs have taken over the ‘zil’ lanes and the zillionaires have taken over the lovely St. Katherine’s Docks with some of the world’s biggest yachts. In the world of social media, brands around the globe are competing for gold in the most innovative campaign category. So sit back, relax and enjoy expert commentary from Siren Towers on the various competitors in this week’s social media round up:

A survey by Disney has found that three-quarters of parents with smartphones share apps with their children and more than a third consider them to be an integral part of family life. Survey findings also revealed that half of parents are happy to spend money on apps each month, despite the number available for free. The survey also found that 38% of children have taught their grandparents how to use app technology.

Qantas has launched a new social commerce site which allows users to discover and share new holiday destinations with their social networks and then book accommodation online directly from the site. Hooroo has been hailed by pundits as the first platform that connects social discovery with commerce in the travel category. New research from a Tourism Australia survey has supported the innovative business model, with results indicating social media updates from friends directly influence 20% of those who book domestic holidays. Upwards of 45,000 people had signed up to Hooroo before the site’s official launch last week.

And taking corporate sponsorship to new levels, EDF Energy, ‘the official electricity supplier to London 2012’ has announced that the mood of the British tweeting public during the Olympics and Paralympics will dictate what colour the EDF-sponsored London Eye turns every evening at 21:00hrs, in the world’s first social media driven light show.

Called the ‘Energy of the Nation‘, the 30-minute light show projected onto the London Eye every evening during the Olympics and Paralympics will use colours dictated in real time by the mood of the people tweeting about the events. If the overall sentiment is negative, the London Eye will glow purple. If it’s positive it will shine yellow, and if the Twitter reaction to the Games is neutral, the wheel will emit green rays. The show will be live streamed here every evening. EDF has declined to reveal what colour the London Eye will change should the British public express feelings of love and romance, no doubt much to the chagrin of Team GB pin-ups Jessica Ennis and Tom Daley.

In another instance of companies submitting to the will of the Twittersphere, Thomson Airways has asked Twitter users to name Britain’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The airline has set up the hashtag #nameourplane, which it has painted on to the side of one of its existing 737 aircraft, to encourage suggestions. Whoever tweets the winning nomination, according to a panel of judges, will receive a free flight on board the aircraft. Since the announcement, Thomson has been both praised and criticised for its decision to appeal to the will of the people. Use the hashtag #nameourplane to check out some of the suggestions so far.

Finally, despite a plea from creative director Danny Boyle to keep the content of this Friday’s Opening Ceremony a secret by using the Twitter hashtag #SavetheSurprise, many people present at Monday’s technical dress rehearsal have posted photographs. Those who did post images that were deemed to be revealing too much were quickly and broadly "flamed” by tweeters. You can view some of the backlash here. Boyle has revealed only select details about the show, but since the performers started rehearsals in June at the Olympic Stadium, a torrent of information has become public. Read a spoiler alert here or tune in to the festivities tonight to find out what all the fuss is about it!