When we were kids, we were told that we are all special snowflakes—unique individuals with our own distinct characteristics. Coca-Cola thinks so, too. Sort of.
The company has flooded retailers with bottles of its flagship soda adorned with people's names as part of its #ShareaCoke promotion (this idea was first introduced in Australia in 2011). It's one of the smarter brand activations in recent memory. But of course, every brand's pop-culture success is met with throngs of people hacking the idea with Photoshop, sharpies or just clever juxtapositions and posting them all over the Internet.
Sure, there are people earnestly posing with their name-cans, but that would be the most boring AdFreak post ever. And I, for one, empathize with those who were left out—those who don't have a can named for them, who are not special snowflakes, and who will have to resort to duct tape to make it right. (Yes, I am bitter.)
Below, check out some of the best (and worst) hacks of the campaign we found in social.
Some people quickly found a way to tear the stunt down.
If your name is on one of these i just wanna let you know your parents are basic & have no creativity pic.twitter.com/omn50933cA
— FUNNY PICS (@LaughPix) July 23, 2014
Some felt alienated.
Silly Coke. You make people feel bad. #ShareaCokepic.twitter.com/ELTrovzQQN
— Lumdawg Millionaire (@MattJLum) July 27, 2014
Especially if they don't know who their parents are.
Just sharing a coke with my dad pic.twitter.com/keEU5LkRoh
— (@NotDyslexic) July 27, 2014
A lot of people will never find their name.
Despite their best efforts.
The feels #ShareACokepic.twitter.com/gCw6fYq6sb
— P A N D A (@CallMeSopyaaang) July 20, 2014
Still no luck.
this is how it looks when I'm trying to find my name on a coke bottle pic.twitter.com/vAXdPnlheh
— NICK (@ddictedToHoes) July 24, 2014
Desperate times call for desparate measures.
You didn't make it happen.. So I took things into my own hands. @CocaCola#ShareACokepic.twitter.com/yhWlPaB5r1
— ❥aiyana (@umm_aiyana) July 25, 2014
There are certainly some unique names out there.
Some very unique names.
Showed my cousin the Sharkeisha coke bottle, this was.. - pic.twitter.com/dIHHoddLth
— 9GAG Tweets (@9GAGTweets) July 25, 2014
Some were inspired by the divine.
this is why we can’t have nice things, america pic.twitter.com/UdLBXajFB5
— Annalise (@bananalise) July 25, 2014
When the shoe fits...
it says to share a coke with a BFF... and these two cant get any closer than they already are >:) pic.twitter.com/ma3fCMdQEW
— Scott G (@Your__Dudeness) July 25, 2014
It's wrong to discriminate.
Share a Coke with your... pic.twitter.com/JfPO1aAOi7
— ♛ νуσѕ ♛ (@VictoriaYos) July 11, 2014
What a lovely singing voice you must have.
Share a Coke with… pic.twitter.com/pYW9Y5hzOb
— SG. (@itsStephGee) July 25, 2014
In case there's a Game of Thrones pal nearby.
That's oddly specific. @HBO@GameOfThrones@Emilia_Clarke#GoT#ShareACokepic.twitter.com/rpwfRZmrQU
— Ŧ Carson Ŧ (@royeboy) July 23, 2014
Or a friend who loves Batman (and happens to take drugs).
#ShareaCokepic.twitter.com/qywOQ4IsyQ
— n@ked Coran (@coran_pls) July 27, 2014
Doctor Who?
The Doctors start to unite through time and space to #ShareACoke#DoctorWhopic.twitter.com/9mLdHoGeTi
— John Davies (@JohnFDDavies) July 24, 2014
Today I learned Patrick Dempsey loves race car driving.
I gave some personalized Cokes to @PatrickDempsey He said," My Cokes!Thank you so much!" #ShareaCoke GoDempseyRacing pic.twitter.com/NJ2XXngjqv
— Sarah Lee (@Mrs_Lee_143) July 25, 2014
Finally! The elusive BORT bottle!
This is the Coke bottle label every "Simpsons" fan needs http://t.co/fbRqnVsnbbpic.twitter.com/TzRRi5fzQf
— BuzzFeed UK (@BuzzFeedUK) July 21, 2014
Maybe you want to share with the enemy.
Share a Coke with Pepsi because it's a friendly competition after all? http://t.co/SDgcDnKFMx#ShareACokepic.twitter.com/N4PfsW1LJ4
— king del rosario (@kingdelrosario) July 24, 2014
Or live happily ever after. This isn't even a hack. Barf.
Shared a Coke with my Soulmate on our wedding day #shareacoke#coke#soulmatepic.twitter.com/jLpVzyJ6zD
— Daved Goliath (@davedgoliath) July 27, 2014