#Mecca_Live - Snapchat Broadcast World's Largest Religious Gathering
 |
Organised under the banner of the #Mecca_Live hashtag, Snapchat used its Live Story function to encourage hundred of thousands (if not millions) of Muslims to post content from within Mecca to create a massive, sprawling tableau of the huge gathering. The movement came a result of a huge campaign by Muslim users to convince Snapchat to feature the city and it sure as hell paid off. Over 1 million mentions were clocked on Twitter, both from those reporting from the inside and people reacting to the wonderment of it all.
Thanks @Snapchat to let the world know about the peaceful #Islam. #mecca_live pic.twitter.com/j28MnG4BO0
— Ali Hussain (@aly_husein) July 14, 2015
Typically Snapchat select their own locations for the Live Story feature (including a recent, controversial spotlight on Tel Aviv), but it would have been foolish of them to ignore such a widely subscribed campaign and to be honest, they could use the points. The Live Story feature has up until now been of questionable popularity, but their other new feature has been going down like a lead balloon.The 'Discover' feature is an area of the app designated to hand-picked advertising content. Previously it was limited to its own tab, but now it appears on the main story page and can't be hidden. Moreover, it actually comes above your friends feed, because it's obviously more important. Since this change, the Snapchat page on the App Store has been utterly overwhelmed with scathing 1-star reviews. If they're smart, they will roll out another update soon and add a hide function, or just more ways to personalise the story feed. With Live Story though, their main focus should be to recognise just how and why the Mecca feed fared so well and carry on the trend in the future.
I'm a Muslim, Islam is perfect but I am not. If I make a mistake, blame it on me, not on my religion. #mecca_live pic.twitter.com/wQ8CGvK2ef
— Romi♌️. (@RomiMorisel) July 13, 2015
Just in case anyone from Snapchat HQ happens to be reading this, the reason it was so popular is because it offered people a rare look at one of the most time-honoured, incredible religious traditions on the planet. It also encouraged a positive outlook on Islam on social media, which is hugely important at the moment considering how much media coverage ISIS and other extremist groups are getting, and social media's propensity to attract the jerkiest of knees.They weren't the only ones to get in on the act. Coca-Cola made inventive use of the social media conduit by rolling out their own Ramadan campaign. They removed the labels from all the coke cans distributed in the Middle East, with one side totally blank and the other reading 'Labels are for cans, not for people'. In the promotional video, the soft drinks giant gathered six men in a pitch-black room to have a dinner party. Once they've finished - and taken the time to get to know each other in the process - the lights come up. The men are all surprised and amazed at how different they all turned out to be. It's a beautiful sentiment, but it's still a little difficult to get past the corporate nature of it (or wonder why they all had to be men).
Whatever the motivation might be, it's very gratifying to see social media being utilised as a means to push positive religious and cultural messages, especially about Islam. So often, discussions about Middle Eastern conflict, religious extremism (far from exclusive to Islam) and other difficult topics are unfairly mutated into gateways for prejudice, but the response to the Mecca Live feed testifies to just how far a positive message can travel with the right wind in its sails.
Callum Davies
Callum is a film school graduate who is now making a name for himself as a journalist and content writer. His vices include flat whites and 90s hip-hop. Follow him @CallumAtSMF
#Mecca_Live - Snapchat Broadcast World's Largest Religious Gathering
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Rating:
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Rating:
Unknown
Keeping you up to date on social media, digital marketing, apps, news & reviews. Social media, and digital marketing as a whole, are rapidly and constantly changing, adapting to new developments at an ever increasing rate. Just keeping up to date can be a nightmare. Our team of writers know their field, and keep an ear to the ground. We aim to keep you informed of all recent developments in the online world, and teach you a little something along the way. So whether you just want to stay connected, or gain some knowledge for yourself, the Social Songbird will keep on singing! More articles are posted every day so keep checking back! Join the discussion on Twitter - #SocialSongbird Or contact us directly - @SocialSongbird_
Entrepreneur, international speaker on Social Media Marketing. First one in the UK to write and speak in conferences about Twitter as a marketing tool. Consultant to Corporate Companies, Government Organizations, Marketing Managers and Business Owners.
Aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. He hopes to one day drop that 'aspiring' prefix. He started as a writer and soon after he was made Executive Editor and Manager of the team at Social Songbird. A position he held for 5 years.
Adrienne is a passionate writer with experience in editing, content creation, and social media marketing. She’s a lover of animals, helping others improve their writing, and 2000s pop culture.
Musician, audio technician, professional tutor and a Cambridge university English student. Interested in writing, politics and obsessed with reading.
Recently graduated with a BA in English Literature from the University of Exeter, and he is about to study an MA in Journalism at the University of Sheffield. He is an aspiring journalist and novelist; in his free time he enjoys playing chess, listening to music and taking long walks through nature.
Lucy is an undergraduate BSc Politics and International Relations student at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Anna Coopey is a 4th year UG student in Classics at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She is a keen writer and researcher on a number of topics, varying from Modern Greek literature to revolutionary theory.
Ellie is a recent BA English Literature graduate and aspiring publisher with a passion for writing. Her favourite pastimes include reading and shopping.