Mozilla has quietly launched a new viral campaign in support of Firefox, complete with song (YouTube TC exclusive above) and some fighting words against Internet Explorer.
The main part of the campaign is a site by the name of Fight Against Boredom which apparently means don’t use Internet Explorer, use Firefox. The site itself features a fake talk show setup, links to a Facebook page, downloads for the fight boredom song, and links to download Firefox.
It’s meant to be viral, but I’m not sure Microsoft will take the following statistics quoted on the page in the best light:
Compared to Internet Explorer users, Firefox users are
- 21% less likely to be a sales representative or agent at their current place of business.
- 45% more likely to have gone on vacation in San Francisco within the last 2 years.
- 33% less likely to live with others suffering from high cholesterol.
- 6% less likely to have eaten any meal at Chick-fil-A within the last 7 days.
- 24% less likely to live with others suffering from heart disease.
- 66% more likely to have viewed or listened to audio or video about politics or public affairs news within the last 30 day.
- 89% more likely to have purchased database software for work in the last year.
- 38% less likely to live with others suffering from breast cancer.
Ouch. Nothing is worse than a forced viral campaign that blows up. When it comes down to it, people will use Firefox when they realise how much better is than IE, but alienating the very audience you’re trying to reach is a big no-no.
Microsoft may take it in a good light, but will the potential converts take it as well? Will be interesting to see how this campaign does in terms of new users, hmm.
Hey Rox, agree with you. I’ve been using Firefox for quite some time now and find it a lot ‘friendlier’ than IE. However, for webdesign I will always need IE for testing my pages, hehe, so Microsoft is safe ;)
I’m sure it’s going to boom!
“89% more likely to have purchased database software for work in the last year.”
That I can see as justifiable, as and i know that i’m right here – all the n3rds use firefox.
I personally, love FF. I only use IE for ONE script and that only pertains to one site. Boo IE!
Ye mate, FF is so much better than IE, and that’s not my opinion based on IE being a Microsoft product. Firefox pluggins just destroy any need for IE :)
Plus, you get a plugin which loads an IE tab in Firefox anywayz :P