Sometimes its best for controversial organizations or people to avoid creating Twitter hashtags that are easily hijacked. Case in point: The New York City Police Department attempted interactivity, asking tweeters to submit their photographs with police officers using the hashtag #mynypd.
The rest is predictable (yet glorious) history.
NYPD’s official Twitter account created the hashtag on Tuesday, submitting this photo as an example:
Do you have a photo w/ a member of the NYPD? Tweet us & tag it #myNYPD. It may be featured on our Facebook. pic.twitter.com/mE2c3oSmm6
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) April 22, 2014
And two hours into the hashtag’s existence, it has skyrocketed to the national trending list, and has become fodder for reminders of police brutality:
Homeless and sleeping in a synagogue? #MyNYPD has an ass kicking answer! Gotta Love the NYPD! pic.twitter.com/pqCSD5CHjT
— Occupy Wall Street (@OccupyWallStNYC) April 22, 2014
You might not have known this, but the NYPD can help you with that kink in your neck. #myNYPD pic.twitter.com/fzUok1FWXG
— Cocky McSwagsalot (@MoreAndAgain) April 22, 2014
#myNYPD pic.twitter.com/xlWkhrHZ9k
— Rami (@RamiSafadi93) April 22, 2014
And some poked fun at the NYPD’s non-brutality-related PR disasters:
NYPD be at the West Indian Labor Day parade like: pic.twitter.com/fOKp4I7pNK
— Black Girl Problems (@BlkGirl_Problms) April 3, 2014
View the rest of the tweets here.
UPDATE @ 9:49 P.M.: The NYPD deputy chief has responded to their hashtag getting hijacked.
NYPD deputy chief: "Twitter provides an open forum for an uncensored exchange and this is an open dialogue good for our city.” #myNYPD
— Dell Cameron (@dellcam) April 22, 2014
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