There is truly no marketing campaign you should take seriously on April Fools day.
Three days ago it seemed like Tinder was ready to answer our prayers. Even if it was only an April Fools joke, we were momentarily led to believe that fish pics were finally getting banned from the dating app.
For those unaware, men proudly boasting of their fishing catches on their dating profiles has been a sort of unspoken joke, at least online. Described by Hypebae as a “cringe dating trend”, Tinder’s ban made it “the first dating app in history to be ‘fish free,’ because let’s face it — no one looks good holding a slimy fish.”
Jokes aside, Tinder’s April Fools banning proved two things; the company’s clientele awareness, and its ability to go viral on command. It’s a strategy that several brands have been using over the years, launching ludicrous campaigns on the 1st of April, a sort of comedic relief intertwined with clever shock factors and virality potential.
The Holiday Origins
April Fools’ Day, also known as All Fools’ Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on the 1st of April in many countries around the world. The exact origin of the holiday is shrouded in mystery, but it’s believed to have roots in ancient Roman festivals like Hilaria and the Feast of Fools, which were marked by practical jokes and merriment.
One theory suggests that April Fools’ Day began in the 16th century when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, resulting in New Year’s Day being moved from April 1st to January 1st. Some people continued to celebrate the old New Year’s Day and were mocked by those who accepted the new calendar, leading to the tradition of playing pranks on April 1st.
Another theory suggests that April Fools’ Day originated in medieval Europe, where the arrival of spring was celebrated with festivals and merrymaking. During these celebrations, people played tricks and hoaxes on each other.
Other April Fools Campaigns
Emirates And Their New Cruise Liner
“We’ve conquered the skies, and now, we’re charting course to take over the seas! Introducing Emirates Sealine – our ultra-luxurious cruise liner,” Emirates tweeted on Friday. Turns out it was a joke.
The company has been known for pranking their customers on April Fools before, making their clientele harder to fool this time around.
Among Us… Horse Version?
Remember 2020’s most downloaded app? The covid-infused group game Among Us launched for April Fools, a new and exciting horse-player mode.
DuoLingo’s Love Language
A rather cringe-worthy reality TV trailer featuring American reality queen, Francesca Farago, has been circulating socials and causing some stir. Again, this was nothing but a joke. The idea emerged from the language learning app, Duolingo, which claimed to be launching a new love-finding show where contestants could not speak the same language.