Anti Texting and Driving PSA Makes Point Without the Crash
A lighthearted texting conversation comes to a grim end in Honda’s PSA for Distracted Driving Month. The ad dispenses with the typical scare tactics associated with such advertising but delivers an equally sobering message via sound effects. Honda is also launching “#thumbsup,” a Twitter hashtag campaign, to get the message out to the target millennial audience. Honda launched the campaign, which also includes two Spanish-language ads, to support the National Safety Council’s designation of April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month effort, which features a carload of teens perishing in a texting-and-driving accident, is now up to 1.7 million views on YouTube. YouTube’s Most-Shared Ads of March 1. Wren Clothing: First Kiss Shares: 1.44 million The viral video that spawned a thousand sequels racked up nearly 2.5 million views on YouTube in the first 24 hours. It became even more buzzworthy when it was revealed to be a viral marketing stunt featuring actors and models — people experienced in the art of kissing strangers and making it look good. Video: YouTube, Tatia PIlieva 2. Save The Children: Most Shocking Second a Day Shares: 866, 365 This unforgettable video by the UK arm of Save The Children gives the “one second in a day” video trope a terrifying twist. It depicts a young British girl whose life transforms from family gatherings and innocent playtime to a harrowing struggle to survive. The message of the video: “Just because it isn’t happening here, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.” Video: YouTube, SaveTheChildrenUK 3. CoorDown: Dear Future Mom Shares: 718,900 CoorDown, an Italian advocacy group for children with Down syndrome, released this touching video in honor of World Down Syndrome Day, in which 15 children comfort a mom-to-be who learns her child will have Down syndrome. Video: YouTube, CoorDown 4. Pepsi Max With Jeff Gordon: Test Drive 2 Shares: 423,204 When a reporter questioned the veracity of Pepsi’s original test drive stunt, the brand — and NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon — decided to put him in his place. Video: YouTube, Pepsi 5. Samsung: Galaxy S5 Official Hands-on Shares: 384,551 Samsung fans were clearly raring for a first look at the new Galaxy S5, as evidenced by the 3.1 million YouTube views this hands-on demo received… Video: YouTube, Samsung Mobile 6. Samsung: Galaxy S5 Official Introduction Shares: 342,962 …not to mention the 23 million views racked up by the official product introduction. Video: YouTube, Samsung Mobile 7. Failte Ireland: St. Patrick’s Day 2014 — #IrelandInspires Shares: 224,495 There’s more to Ireland than St. Patrick’s Day. That’s the message behind “Ireland Inspires,” a tourism video created by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, which showcases the nation’s countryside, history and industry, set to an Irish folk artist’s cover of “Higher Love.” Video: YouTube, FailteIrelandTV 8. Chanel: Coco Mademoiselle — She’s Not There Shares: 214,089 This video for Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle fragrance stars Keira Knightley as an elusive, fashionable woman who turns […]