Did you ever think you’d see the day the Pope joins Twitter? Under the handle @PopeBXIV, Pope Benedict XIV is now vying for your follows and retweets. In what might be considered Catholicism’s Twitter co-sign, the head of the Catholic Church will send messages from this personal account in hopes of providing spiritual guidance to a new generation of young people. Not always known as the most forward thinking institution, this is a step in the right direction for the Catholic Church’s viral presence.
While Pope Benedict XVI is technically in charge of his personal Twitter account, he mostly writes in long hand, and reports suggest he will have a ghost-tweeter.
Regardless of who will be manually typing the 140 character notes, Pope Benedict XVI will sign off on tweets from his account. Right now, he has 17,300 followers and has tweeted 6,723 messages.
Unlikely Social Media Users
Against All Odds, Pope Benedict XIV Joins Twitter
Trend Themes
1. Religious Leaders on Social Media - There is an opportunity for other religious leaders and institutions to join social media platforms as a means to connect with younger generations and increase their viral presence.
2. Celebrity Accounts with Personal Touches - There is an opportunity for celebrity accounts to establish a personal connection with followers by incorporating handwritten notes or incorporating interactions with fans in their tweets.
3. Viral Marketing for Religious Institutions - There is an opportunity for religious institutions to use viral marketing strategies to increase their presence and connect with non-traditional audiences.
Industry Implications
1. Religious Institutions - Religious institutions can use social media as an opportunity to increase their presence and connect with younger generations on a more personal level.
2. Social Media Platforms - Social media platforms have the opportunity to welcome new and unconventional users, such as religious leaders, to their platforms to increase the diversity of ideas and perspectives shared on their platforms.
3. Digital Marketing Agencies - Digital marketing agencies can offer their services to religious institutions who are interested in using viral marketing strategies to increase their presence on social media.