LONDON -- Some brands in the UK and Ireland were clearly so keen to wish everyone a happy New Year that they decided to go and do it a day early.
Journalist Simon Ricketts spent last night scouring social media for premature companies who managed to get their NYE Twitter scheduling game a touch muddled, and it's fair to say there certainly wasn't a shortage.
“Dave, did you set up the scheduled tweet?” - “Yep, all sorted.” - “You got the date right?” - “Yep. Definitely”. pic.twitter.com/vdLBpnM4rf— SimonNRicketts (@SimonNRicketts) December 31, 2015
“Schedule it for midnight, yeah?” - “Of course. I’m not an idiot.” - “Got the right date, yeah?” - “YES.” pic.twitter.com/phGAWbaKxk— SimonNRicketts (@SimonNRicketts) December 31, 2015
“Bob, you do the scheduled tweet?” - “Yes” - “You use the fireworks shot?” - “Naturally” - “Correct date?” - “Yes." pic.twitter.com/6Arai5APGG— SimonNRicketts (@SimonNRicketts) December 31, 2015
“You’re a social media expert?” - “Absolutely” - “We’re happy to offer you the position. Don’t fuck it up.” pic.twitter.com/ZHslB79xIC— SimonNRicketts (@SimonNRicketts) December 31, 2015
“Of course, being good at computers means we won’t fall for that ‘Early New Year’ nonsense” - “Ha, those idiots.” pic.twitter.com/7KuZxBVRo2— SimonNRicketts (@SimonNRicketts) December 31, 2015
Soon the word spread, and more and more joined in on the joke.
@SimonNRicketts "Thirty days hath September, April, June and December. I'm not an idiot, Geoff."— Huw (@ed_son) December 31, 2015
@SimonNRicketts I’ve just heard a bizarre eruption of fireworks. It’s just possible there’s been an even bigger cock-up...— Tiahowler Biltawülf (@Biltawulf) December 31, 2015
The perils of scheduling tweets without knowing if 12.00 midnight is the end of one day or the start of the next. pic.twitter.com/nsxo3RqQdl— Dan Rebellato (@DanRebellato) December 31, 2015
The Tower Bridge social media manager wondering where everyone else is at tonight's New Year's Eve party. pic.twitter.com/ANwySH2B2g— Jamie Ross (@JamieRoss7) December 31, 2015
Luckily, good old Tower Bridge saw the funny side.
Oops, guess we got a little too excited there... https://t.co/lZuYa5HzsK— Tower Bridge (@TowerBridge) December 31, 2015
At least they can take comfort in the fact that they weren't the only ones.