Faceplant

Faceplant refers to a significant online blunder or misstep that damages a person or brand’s reputation. It is a major faux pas that can occur on social media, websites, or other digital platforms, often resulting from a lack of awareness, poor judgment, or insensitivity.

Faceplants are highly visible online mistakes, gaffes or errors in judgment that generate negative attention, go viral, and tarnish reputations. They can stem from ill-advised posts, insensitive comments, inappropriate content, or controversial actions that provoke backlash. These blunders can range from offensive tweets or Facebook posts to insensitive remarks in online interviews or inappropriate behavior caught on video and shared online.

• Often unintentional but sometimes due to poor judgment or lack of foresight
• Can quickly spread on social media and attract widespread criticism
• Difficult to recover from and undo reputational damage
• Highlight importance of caution and thoughtfulness in online conduct
• Underscore need for crisis communication and swift damage control
• Can lead to loss of followers, customers, or business partnerships
• May require public apologies, retractions, or corrective actions to mitigate harm
• Can have long-lasting consequences, as online content is often permanent and easily searchable

An executive posting an offensive joke on their public Twitter profile and sparking outrage would be considered a faceplant that harms their professional reputation. Similarly, a company sharing an insensitive meme or ad that trivializes a serious issue can face intense backlash and calls for boycotts, damaging its brand image.

• Think before you post and consider potential interpretations or reactions
• Have a response plan ready to manage fallout from mistakes or controversies
• Take swift action to acknowledge errors, apologize, and make amends as needed
• Monitor online mentions and sentiment to quickly identify potential faceplants
• Provide social media training to employees to prevent individual missteps that reflect on the company
• Establish clear guidelines and approval processes for official social media accounts and content