July 24, 2015

Communication Shutdown: 1st November 2010

There are now 4.5bn social media users globally – We interact through Social Media in the same way we do in our everyday interactions. But imagine not being able to communicate with your friends and loved ones, despite your best attempts. Imagine the frustration of not being able to truly connect with other people, despite your strong desire to do so.

Could you stand to go one day without being socially connected? Communication Shutdown on November 1st challenges you to do just that. So the big question is, can you get by without Facebook or Twitter, just for one day?

Brief

Autism charities in more than 40 countries decided to launch the global Communication Shutdown initiative in hope of raising awareness of Autism and the biggest challenge that Autistic people face; social communication. What better way to raise awareness of something that most take for granted than to completely shut down our medium of social interaction; social networks.

The global social experiment not only aims to raise awareness of the disability but also charity funding; by encouraging social media users to make a donation of £5 – to receive a charity app, or CHAPP, that will signal their support and intention to opt out of Facebook and Twitter on 1st November with a shutdown badge placed over their profile picture.

SapientNitro were tasked with developing the campaign website,www.communicationshutdown.org, where the charity app, or CHAPP, also developed by SapientNitro, can be purchased prior to the main event. The site needed to act as a central hub for the campaign encouraging individuals to sign up and get involved.

Strategy/Execution

The Communication Shutdown campaign encourages social media users to make a donation and receive a charity app, or CHAPP, that will signal their support and intention to opt out of Facebook and Twitter on 1 November.

The site will also host a global mosaic where supporters can see their profile picture next to celebrities who have signed up.

As people become more reliant on these channels to communicate worldwide, the Communication Shutdown fundraising campaign will also serve as a social experiment on social media habits.

What exactly is a CHAPP?

It’s a Charity App that has quite a few tricks:

  1. It connects with a user’s Facebook and/or Twitter account. This shows their support and spreads the word to their friends and followers. It also signals their shutdown on 1st November by placing a shutdown badge over their profile picture (This happens automatically on Twitter and can be manually changed on Facebook.)
  2. It also adds the user’s Facebook picture to our global mosaic of supporters where they can see their picture next to celebrity supporters.
  3. As well, it gives them other ways to show support through email signatures, blog buttons or screensavers.

The CHAPP enables users to:

  • Place an official shutdown badge over their profile pictures on Facebook and Twitter
  • Synch their Facebook pictures to the campaign’s global mosaic of supporters, including celebrities, found on the campaign’s homepage.
  • Show support in other ways, including: email signatures, blog buttons or screensavers.
  • SapientNitro developed the strategy, creative, web design and development behind the campaign’s website. SapientNitro also created the CHAPP app for Facebook and Twitter.

Results

Response to the campaign has been extremely positive with a number of high profile people getting involved including Mat Rogers, Ryan Shelton & Miranda Kerr.

“One of the greatest gifts I have been given in my life is the ability to communicate. It allows me to feel connected, stay in touch with friends and family and share ideas, thoughts and dreams. If not communicating for one day will help kids with autism and raise awareness of their challenges, then I look forward to every minute of it,” Miranda said.

Final results & statistics will be launched after November 1st.

Creative Credits:
Executive Creative Directors: Nancy Hartley, James Burchill
Associate Creative Directors/Art Directors: Cristian Staal, Ralphie Barnett
Senior Writer: Marianne Harvey
Senior Digital Creative: Garth Sykes
National Managing Director: Michael Branagh
Account Director: Anne-Maree Jenyns
Account Manager: Bec Kennedy
Producer: Imogen Dick
National Strategy Director: Darren McColl
Digital Strategy: Freddie Laker
Digital Account Director: Adam Ford
Senior Digital Producer: Anna Smith
Website Developers: Dan Treichel, Jake Pospischil, Andrew Rovenko, Horia Traian

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