A few months ago, Twitter introduced hashtags with emojis - by using a certain hashtag, an emoji would appear in the users tweets. One of the first major uses was in April, when Twitter debut Star Wars Emojis as part of the buildup to "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Twitter then expanded their emoji hashtags to include special events, like the VMAs, the NBA playoffs, and the British Premier League's kickoff weekend, which included team specific and matchup emojis.
Courtesy PremierLeague.com
Just as the NFL season kicked off, Twitter debuted a number of new emojis, specific to terms used to describe football games and plays. This was done for a number of reasons, including the fact that some teams had developed their own emojis and emoji keyboards for mobile devices, as well as a means to engage fans who were already using the terms online.
However, by using the terminology of the game - the same terminology used by broadcasters and social media managers reporting on the games as they happened, Twitter has created a new version of live tweeting.
Live tweeting of events and games has fallen out of favor with many social media managers, as well as fans - the argument being that it tends to clutter up timelines, and doesn't provide any added value to a broadcast or social media program. In fact, some organizations that I've spoken with don't live tweet as it cuts in on their revenue streams, such as live streaming video. However, Twitter's addition of emojis attached to game terminology could revive the practice, now that it has a new and relevant application.
Twitter has in effect created a new version of play by play - emoji play by play - that fits with contemporary social media and mobile practices. Only time will tell if teams and fans embrace these hashtags on Twitter, but it opens up a number of engagement and activation possibilities for brands looking to piggyback these hashtags.
What do you think - is this a novelty, or will brands and fans alike embrace emoji play by play? Leave a comment or tweet me at @cknoblock17 - I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Photo courtesy SportsNation