“BREAKING NEWS: Unconfirmed reports are coming in of an explosion on the North bank of the Singapore Marina.
City Authorities urge the public not to panic, and to not hinder the emergency teams that are converging on the area.
UPDATE: Singapore Authorities have officially announced a state of emergency and declared martial law.”
US game maker, Activision, published this announcement on Twiter as a publicity stunt for the soon-to-be released video game, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, along with pictures of a fictional terrorist attack in Singapore.
Photo Courtesy http://www.geeksnack.com
This ploy angered Twitter users, worldwide! Tauriq Moosa tweeted, “Faked news could be and was devastating for those unaware that it was video game marketing. In this case, it’s not only what you say, but also where you say it!”
Considering that its content is being driven with controversial topics, such as terrorism, Activision should have used a more private platform, such as a company website, to avoid misunderstandings by those who are not familiar with the video game.
While it is beneficial to utilize social media as a marketing technique, it is crucial to choose the form of social media that is appropriate for the target audience.