# Fictional Food Identifiers The Not Hotdog App Was Created to Promote HBO's 'Silicon Valley' By Michael Hines | Published 2017-05-16 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/not-hotdog-app References: [producthunt](https://www.producthunt.com/posts/not-hotdog) & [itunes.apple](https://itunes.apple.com/app/not-hotdog/id1212457521?ref=producthunt) Fans of the [HBO](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-sopranos-range) show "Silicon Valley" will instantly get the joke that is the Not Hotdog app. On the show the app was created as a "[Shazam for food](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gpt-food-cam)," with the only problem being that it could only identify what was and was not a hot dog. The creators of the show have released the [Not Hotdog app on iTunes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/afterlife-generator), and the real-life version seems to function exactly the same way as the fictional application. The Not Hotdog app is more or less useless as an app, but as a marketing tool it's great. "Silicon Valley" has consistently used real tech to promote itself, including releasing a chatbot and browser plug-in. The Not Hotdog app is its latest downloadable marketing stunt but will likely not be its last. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.4/10 - Popularity: 47% | Activity: 46% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Humor](https://www.trendhunter.com/humor) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Fictional Food Identifiers:** The popularity of the Not Hotdog app demonstrates the potential for apps that utilize image recognition to identify foods. - **Promotional Apps:** Marketing campaigns that incorporate interactive apps, such as the Not Hotdog app, can increase engagement and brand awareness. - **Real-life Parodies:** Parodies of real-life apps, like the Not Hotdog app, can be used as a creative and humorous marketing strategy. ### Where This Applies - **Food and Beverage:** Image recognition apps, like the Not Hotdog app, have the potential to revolutionize the way consumers interact with food and drink products. - **Marketing and Advertising:** Agencies can leverage interactive and humorous apps, such as the Not Hotdog app, to create effective and viral marketing campaigns for clients. - **Entertainment:** Content producers can create interactive and engaging apps, like the Not Hotdog app, to promote their shows and increase fan engagement. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Sausage Party Satchels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sausage-satchels.md) - [AI Avatar Dating Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snack-app.md) - [Emerging Food Brand Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emerging-food-brand.md) - [AI-Powered TV Cookbooks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/samsung-food-1.md) - [Interactive Gamified Restaurant Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/baoverse-app.md) - [Hot Dog Ice Creams](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-dog-ice-cream.md) - [Branded Hot Dog-Inspired Straws](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-dog-straw.md) - [Plant-Based Grilled Meats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kraft-heinz-2.md) - [AI-Powered Food Label Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zoe-health-app.md)