UK console retailer GAME is currently facing criticism after some people called out its latest Twitter ad. The advertisement which was made for Valentine's Day appears to be making a joke for a sensitive topic such as domestic violence.
GAME Under Fire After Posting Sensitive Valentine's Day Ad
According to a report by PC Gamer, the now-deleted post features a range of mobile phones. Despite removing the advertisement from the social media platform, some users managed to grab a screenshot of the post.
"Love your phone as much as you love your console? Show it you care and upgrade here," the ad reads, showing a range of smartphones that mostly have broken screens.
It was followed by a "Shhhhh baby" tagline. Below this phrase, the follow-up message reads, "I ain't gonna treat you like the others."
While the concept is simple to grasp since it tackles how people take care of their mobile phones, some Twitter people took note of its real meaning. According to them, it's easy to point out that the main subject of this Valentine's ad is all about domestic violence.
After GAME's post was bombarded with criticisms, the UK-based store immediately replaced the malicious ad with a contest where people can win a controller.
Related Article: Companies Are Using Fake Ads on Twitter for Testimonials in Facebook Ads; Zuckerberg Denies This
Tech Companies Committed PR Mistakes in the Past
As TechRaptor reported earlier this week, this kind of PR mistake is not unusual for companies. In the past, there have been a myriad of posts that triggered a lot of people especially when they are all about deep-seated issues in humanity.
For instance, "Injustice 2 Mobile" commemorated Prime Month in 2021 by posting Poison Ivy. However, many citizens hit the post after saying that the subject was bisexual.
Another incident of PR mistake which previously happened involved Tripwire CEO, John Gibson. After commenting about his support for the abortion law in Texas, he later stepped down on his position.
Shipwright, a developer behind "Chivalry 2" who had worked with Tripwire for more than three years, had decided to cancel the latter's existing contracts at that time.
Useful Tech to Help Domestic Violence Victims
Speaking of the rising cases of domestic abuse, Tech Times recently reported that Google has already added a hotline for such cases.
The search engine giant has unveiled its special feature for domestic abuse survivors who are still seeking assistance. It's now made easier through the participation of the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Aside from helping domestic abuse survivors, Google also launched an initiative to help suicidal individuals through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Just like what it did to the domestic violence hotline, it added contact information on top of the search results.
Elsewhere, a 14-year-old police cadet posted a TikTok clip for domestic violence victims. According to Tech Times at that time, they could now "silently" contact hotlines like 999 whenever they needed help.
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Joseph Henry
