What you hope to be a quick spin through your Facebook timeline to get caught up on friends and family often turns into an annoying and aggravating political diatribe that can ruin your day. The upcoming election is already buzz-worthy beyond compare, but things can turn nasty in a heartbeat. That's why Benton Harbor-based Maytag is launching today its "No Smear" campaign. It's actually a Chrome plug-in which can block negative political content from your Facebook and Twitter feeds.
While it is designed to coincide with the roll out of their own "smear-" and fingerprint-resistant stainless steel appliance suite, the company is actually responding to research they conducted that clearly shows negative political posts are seen as the most annoying content on social media today. So, they decided to do something about it.
With half of Americans surveyed being angered or annoyed by that type of content, Maytag is hoping to make social media newsfeeds a bit more positive and lighthearted, and a lot less negative with their "No Smear Campaign." The company says their research turned up 73-percent of all respondents admitting to un-following, blocking or hiding posts from another person because they didn't like the content shared. They figured that surely there's a better way to steer clear of the negativity while also staying informed on the candidates.
Just in time for the launch of its new "smear" and fingerprint resistant stainless steel kitchen suite, users can opt-in to the Maytag No Smear desktop Chrome plug-in to help hide negative, smearing political content and replace it with lighthearted content that all Americans can agree on. Maytag makes it easy to clean up smears in the kitchen and online.
Brendan Bosch is Maytag's Senior Brand Manager. He says, "Maytag prides itself on being a dependable American brand." He adds, "We want Americans to be educated about the election, without being brought down and annoyed by negative smears. What better way for Maytag to lend our century-old dependability than helping rid Americans of smears online and in the kitchen?"
Social media users have the opportunity to download Maytag brand's dependable "No Smear" desktop-only Chrome plug-in to help rid their Facebook and Twitter feeds of negative political content. For those opting in, identified political smears will be replaced with content that is a little more lighthearted and delivered by Maytag's new Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel kitchen appliances. Users can also see when smearing content has been blocked and have the option to un-hide it, if they choose.
To support the No Smear Campaign, Maytag has teamed up with American actress and comedian Abby Elliott to help raise awareness for the plug-in and promote positivity during the election season.
Elliott says, "While this election has provided some entertaining and comedic moments, we all get a little tired when surrounded by too much negativity." She says, "That's why I was excited to join with Maytag to bring a little more lighthearted and 'clean' conversation to the election."
Maytag also consulted with well-regarded University of Michigan professor and political scientist, Dr. Arthur Lupia to assist in the back-end development of the plug-in to ensure it best reflects current negative political discourse without showing any candidate or party preference. The landing page where users can download the plug-in also leads to all official candidate pages so that Americans can be educated on all options before they take to the polls this November.
The No Smear campaign leads up to the launch of Maytag introducing a French Door Refrigerator, Top Control Dishwasher, Range and Microwave, all with a special fingerprint resistant stainless steel exterior making the appliances easy to clean.
Soon, the daily habits of opening and closing the refrigerator doors or the dog's wet nose sniffing the dishwasher will no longer leave streaks, smears or fingerprints.
The appliances range in price from $369 to $2,999 in manufacturers suggested retail pricing, and will be available at retailers nationwide.
To download Maytag's No Smear plug-in or to learn more about the new Maytag Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel kitchen suite, click this link: http://www.maytag.com/nosmear
For more than a century, Maytag appliances have been synonymous with dependability and durability. For over 100 years- Maytag has an enduring tradition of quality production and powerful performance.
Abby Elliott is best known for her four seasons as a cast member on NBC's Saturday Night Live. She was the first second-generation cast member on SNL, following in the footsteps of her father, actor and comedian Chris Elliott. Abby co-stars in Bravo's first scripted half hour comedy Odd Mom Out, the second season of which is airing currently.
Abby's other television credits include: Difficult People, How I Met Your Mother, Happy Endings, Garfunkel and Oates, Inside Amy Schumer, King of the Hill, and 2 Broke Girls. Abby's feature credits include: Paramount's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Megan Fox and Will Arnett, the indie film Life Partners alongside Leighton Meester and Gillian Jacobs, High Road opposite Lizzy Caplan and Andy Daly, Sex Ed along with Haley Joel Osment and Matt Walsh, and No Strings Attached with Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher. Before SNL, Abby worked and trained with other SNL alum at the Groundling's Theater and The Upright Citizen's Brigade.
