Hashtag Social Media — Musings From Brafton’s Social Team — Are you feeling lucky for St. Patrick’s Day?

☘️ Are you feeling lucky for St. Patrick’s Day? ☘️
This year is expected to be the biggest year yet for the holiday. Continue reading to find out more!

In this month’s edition, you’ll find:

#DYK

According to the National Retail Federation, 61% of consumers plan to celebrate the holiday, a 54% increase from 2022. 

Consumers also plan to spend a total of $6.9 billion — $1 billion more than last year. That comes down to about $43.84 per person!

Breaking those expenditures down even further, men are expected to spend almost $10 more than women on average — and mostly on beverages. 

As consumers start aging out of the 18-34-year-old category, they’re bringing their excitement for the holiday into new stages of their lives. Celebration plans among those 35 years old and higher are on the rise!

#OMG

A ban on TikTok is inching ever closer in the US and EU, as fears surrounding user data and national security keep mounting. 

According to Social Media Today, “TikTok’s European staff have launched a new effort to win over EU regulators by outlining a plan to ensure that European user data is only stored in its Ireland data center, and is not accessible by Chinese staff.

The program, called ‘Project Clover,’ is being communicated to EU officials in the hopes of avoiding further action in the region.

In the US, meanwhile, TikTok has launched a similar campaign, called ‘Project Texas,’ in which it’s looking to highlight how US user data will similarly be cut off from outside interference.

TikTok is also faced with potential bans in Canada and Australia. To find out more about the potential ban on TikTok, read the full story here.

#SPOTLIGHT

Check out some of these amazing St. Patrick’s Day marketing campaigns! 

Guinness and Carhartt

Every year, in honor of St Patrick’s Day, the city of Chicago dyes its eponymous river a bright Shamrock green. But who handles the job? This engaging ad, a collaboration between Guinness and the Carharrt workwear brand, answers the question: it’s the plumbers from The Chicago Journeyman Plumbers Local Union 130.

McDonald’s

Did you know that McDonald’s Shamrock Shake began as a charity promotion for the Ronald McDonald House in 1970? 

In 2022, McDonald’s revealed the secret ingredient that turns the shake green: hex color #cbf2ac! The brand took to Twitter and asked their followers to create and share their own designs using the hashtag, #cbf2ac!

Catch up on the these Brafton articles:

#BFF

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