Social media, if used strategically, is one of the most powerful tool to communicate and engage with masses. While brand marketers&nbsp;are innovatively&nbsp;using&nbsp;the web&nbsp;to engage with&nbsp;potential customers, there are many&nbsp;who&nbsp;harnessed this impactful platform&nbsp;to raise attention and initiate action on social causes.&nbsp;Here, we talk about some majorly successful campaigns that used an out of the box approach of&nbsp;inducing&nbsp;a comic factor to grab attention of the masses. These campaigns, besides tickling audience&#39;s funny&nbsp;bone, also instigated a sense of responsibility in them&nbsp;to participate in a larger than life issue behind the humour.

Here are brilliant examples of comedy&nbsp;being used to convey serious messages:

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<h2>ALS Ice Bucket Challenge</h2>

 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qgqsgXSJ7g8" width="560"></iframe>

Source : Shine On Media

 
The ice bucket challenge was launched by the ALS association in 2014 to raise awareness about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a fatal brain disease that damages motor neurons.&nbsp;People poured a bucket of iced water over their heads in order to appeal for donations before nominating others to do the same. The campaign spread like wildfire over the internet with over 2.4 million entertaining videos circulating. Renowned personalities including Lady Gaga, Tom Cruise, Cristiano Ronaldo, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr and Tom Cruise participated. The campaign raised over $100 million in the first month itself that was used to fund several research projects. One of these was Project MinE, where the researchers recently announced that they have identified a new gene associated with the disease, which experts say could lead to new treatment possibilities

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<h2>Feeling Nuts</h2>

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Source : @realhughjackman via Twitter (Twitter)
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

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Brothers and founders of Salter Brothers Entertainment, Simon and Andrew Salter were touched and inspired by the story of Wendy Gough, a woman who lost her son to testicular cancer only because he was too embarrassed to talk about it.

They launched the #FeelingNuts campaign where boys were to post a picture of crotch grabs to catch attention of males to check early symptoms of the disease.&nbsp;With support from celebrities like Hugh Jackman and Nick Jonas, the campaign reached 750 million people globally.

The &quot;simple and powerful message&quot; of Feeling Nuts has impressed the British&nbsp;health minister Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, who said &quot; we have to make sure as the government that the system is able to respond to those people who come forward as a result.&quot;

<h2> 
Save The Internet, By All India Backchod</h2>

 
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mfY1NKrzqi0" width="560"></iframe>

Source : All India Bakchod 
 
All India Bakchod from India released a video - Save The Internet, that explained net neutrality and highlighted how telecom companies can change the internet usage scenario through a very basic and funny example. #SaveTheInternet took over Twitter trends with Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Farhan Akhtar and Ayushmann Khurrana urging fans to support the cause. 
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<h2> 
Africa For Norway</h2>

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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oJLqyuxm96k" width="560"></iframe>

Source : SAIH Norway 
 
A Norwegian group called Radi-Aid launched a video to request Africa to send radiators to Norway. The cause was the condition of freezing children during Norway&rsquo;s severely cold winter months. The humorous video has a serious message. Their effort is a serious critique of the Western media coverage that stereotypes underdeveloped nations .The point is that images of pitiable&nbsp;Africans are just as imprecise&nbsp;as the idea of helpless freezing Norwegians.

<h2> 
British Heart Foundation - Promoting Hands-Only CPR</h2>

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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ILxjxfB4zNk" width="560"></iframe>

Source : British Heart Foundation 
 
British Heart Foundation (BHF) launched a campaign aimed at encouraging bystanders to perform hands only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in case of emergency. Actor and former footballer Vinnie Jones appeared in a humourous training video demonstrating hands-only CPR. It demonstrates a simple drill : Call 999 and push hard and fast in the centre of the chest to the tune of the song &#39;Stayin Alive&#39;.The BHF claimed at least 23 people used the technique&nbsp;in a medical emergency after seeing the ad.

<h2> 
Movember</h2>

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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8w1p5UI7Siw" width="560"></iframe>

Source : Made Men

<meta charset="utf-8" />Movember, a fusion&nbsp;of the words &quot;moustache&quot; and &quot;November,&quot; is an annual movement where men ditch their razors for a month and grow moustaches to raise funds for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and other men&#39;s health issues. Popularly known as &lsquo;No Shave November&rsquo;, this&nbsp;initially started as a fundraiser in 1999 that grew into a worldwide tradition, led by the Movember Foundation and has raised over $559 million to fund 832 men&#39;s health programs in 21 countries.

<h2> 
Spice Girls</h2>

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&nbsp;

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UpBoKjdm2Ek" width="560"></iframe> 
 
The United Nations&rsquo; Global Goals for Sustainable Development campaign recreated Spice Girls&rsquo; 1996 hit &ldquo;Wannabe&rdquo; to empower women by emphasising on a number of key women&rsquo;s issues like violence gender pay gap, and quality education for girls. It stars a range of stars from across the globe, including Canada&rsquo;s Taylor Hatala, Sri Lanka&rsquo;s Jacqueline Fernandez, Nigeria&rsquo;s Seyi Shay and the UK&rsquo;s M.O. The original &ldquo;Wannabe&rdquo; debuted on July 8, 1996 featuring Victoria Beckham, so this is a pitch perfect way to celebrate 20 years of completion.

&nbsp;

What an entertaining mix of social media and social responsibility!

&nbsp;

(Inputs from Shashwat Mittal and Devanshi Verma)

Sometimes, humour tells you where the trouble is

Social media, if used strategically, is one of the most powerful tool to communicate and engage with masses. While brand marketers are innovatively using the web to engage with potential customers, there are many who harnessed this impactful platform to raise attention and initiate action on social causes. Here, we talk about some majorly successful campaigns that used an out of the box approach of inducing a comic factor to grab attention of the masses. These campaigns, besides tickling audience's funny bone, also instigated a sense of responsibility in them to participate in a larger than life issue behind the humour. Here are brilliant examples of comedy being used to convey serious messages: ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Source : Shine On Media The ice bucket challenge was launched by the ALS association in 2014 to raise awareness about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a fatal brain disease that damages motor neurons. People poured a bucket of iced water over their heads in order to appeal for donations before nominating others to do the same. The campaign spread like wildfire over the internet with over 2.4 million entertaining videos circulating. Renowned personalities including Lady Gaga, Tom Cruise, Cristiano Ronaldo, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr and Tom Cruise participated. The campaign raised over $100 million in the first month itself that was used to fund several research projects. One of these was Project MinE, where the researchers recently announced that they have identified a new gene associated with the disease, which experts say could lead to new treatment possibilities Feeling Nuts Source : @realhughjackman via Twitter (Twitter) × Brothers and founders of Salter Brothers Entertainment, Simon and Andrew Salter were touched and inspired by the story of Wendy Gough, a woman who lost her son to testicular cancer only because he was too embarrassed to talk about it. They launched the #FeelingNuts campaign where boys were to post a picture of crotch grabs to catch attention of males to check early symptoms of the disease. With support from celebrities like Hugh Jackman and Nick Jonas, the campaign reached 750 million people globally. The "simple and powerful message" of Feeling Nuts has impressed the British health minister Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, who said " we have to make sure as the government that the system is able to respond to those people who come forward as a result." Save The Internet, By All India Backchod Source : All India Bakchod All India Bakchod from India released a video - Save The Internet, that explained net neutrality and highlighted how telecom companies can change the internet usage scenario through a very basic and funny example. #SaveTheInternet took over Twitter trends with Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Farhan Akhtar and Ayushmann Khurrana urging fans to support the cause. Africa For Norway Source : SAIH Norway A Norwegian group called Radi-Aid launched a video to request Africa to send radiators to Norway. The cause was the condition of freezing children during Norway’s severely cold winter months. The humorous video has a serious message. Their effort is a serious critique of the Western media coverage that stereotypes underdeveloped nations .The point is that images of pitiable Africans are just as imprecise as the idea of helpless freezing Norwegians. British Heart Foundation - Promoting Hands-Only CPR Source : British Heart Foundation British Heart Foundation (BHF) launched a campaign aimed at encouraging bystanders to perform hands only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in case of emergency. Actor and former footballer Vinnie Jones appeared in a humourous training video demonstrating hands-only CPR. It demonstrates a simple drill : Call 999 and push hard and fast in the centre of the chest to the tune of the song 'Stayin Alive'.The BHF claimed at least 23 people used the technique in a medical emergency after seeing the ad. Movember Source : Made Men Movember, a fusion of the words "moustache" and "November," is an annual movement where men ditch their razors for a month and grow moustaches to raise funds for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and other men's health issues. Popularly known as ‘No Shave November’, this initially started as a fundraiser in 1999 that grew into a worldwide tradition, led by the Movember Foundation and has raised over $559 million to fund 832 men's health programs in 21 countries. Spice Girls The United Nations’ Global Goals for Sustainable Development campaign recreated Spice Girls’ 1996 hit “Wannabe” to empower women by emphasising on a number of key women’s issues like violence gender pay gap, and quality education for girls. It stars a range of stars from across the globe, including Canada’s Taylor Hatala, Sri Lanka’s Jacqueline Fernandez, Nigeria’s Seyi Shay and the UK’s M.O. The original “Wannabe” debuted on July 8, 1996 featuring Victoria Beckham, so this is a pitch perfect way to celebrate 20 years of completion. What an entertaining mix of social media and social responsibility! (Inputs from Shashwat Mittal and Devanshi Verma)

Social media campaigns that used comedy to bring awareness

An Oslo court on Wednesday jailed two jihadists of Pakistani and Chechen origin for six and seven and a half years, respectively, for joining the&nbsp;Islamic State&nbsp;in Syria. 
 
Adam Idrisovich Magomadov, a 23-year-old Russian of Chechen origin, and Hasan Ahmed, a 46-year-old Norwegian of Pakistani origin, were convicted of belonging to IS and of &quot;terror conspiracy&quot;. 
 
The two men, who had been living in Southeastern Norway, travelled together to Syria in August 2014, a little more than a month after the IS declared a caliphate in an area straddling Iraq and Syria. 
 
While there, the two took part in IS training programmes, vowed allegiance to the group, and bore weapons in its name, the court found. Magomadov was handed a heavier sentence because he stayed in Syria longer. 
 
The court found it likely that he had taken part in combat, that he had maintained ties with IS after returning to Norway, and that he, like his co-accused, planned to return to Syria. 
 
Ahmed, whose son Ishaq was also sentenced to eight years in prison in Norway last year for joining IS, will appeal the conviction, while Magomadov had not yet decided, their lawyers told public broadcaster NRK. Their sentences were in line with those requested by the prosecution. 
 
(AFP)

The two took part in IS training programmes, vowed allegiance to the group and bore weapons in its name

An Oslo court on Wednesday jailed two jihadists of Pakistani and Chechen origin for six and seven and a half years, respectively, for joining the Islamic State in Syria. Adam Idrisovich Magomadov, a 23-year-old Russian of Chechen origin, and Hasan Ahmed, a 46-year-old Norwegian of Pakistani origin, were convicted of belonging to IS and of "terror conspiracy". The two men, who had been living in Southeastern Norway, travelled together to Syria in August 2014, a little more than a month after the IS declared a caliphate in an area straddling Iraq and Syria. While there, the two took part in IS training programmes, vowed allegiance to the group, and bore weapons in its name, the court found. Magomadov was handed a heavier sentence because he stayed in Syria longer. The court found it likely that he had taken part in combat, that he had maintained ties with IS after returning to Norway, and that he, like his co-accused, planned to return to Syria. Ahmed, whose son Ishaq was also sentenced to eight years in prison in Norway last year for joining IS, will appeal the conviction, while Magomadov had not yet decided, their lawyers told public broadcaster NRK. Their sentences were in line with those requested by the prosecution. (AFP)

Pakistani and Chechen-origin jihadists jailed in Norway

The teenager who shot dead nine people at a Munich shopping mall spent a year planning the rampage but selected his victims at random, officials said today. 
 
Details are emerging of gunman David Ali Sonboly as a depressed 18-year-old who was obsessed with mass killings and had long struggled with his mental health. 
 
Friday&#39;s shooting spree sparked a terror alert, with Europe on edge following a string of attacks claimed by the Islamic State group, but investigators have ruled out that Sonboly had any link with the jihadists. 
 
However, he appears to have planned the assault with chilling precision, with Bavarian police chief Robert Heimberger telling a press conference today that Sonboly had visited the site and taken photos during a year of preparation. 
 
Chief prosecutor Thomas Steinkraus-Koch added that the gunman had not &quot;deliberately selected&quot; his victims, dismissing speculation that Sonbaly sought to target foreigners. 
 
Most of the dead -- who were mainly teenagers -- were foreign nationals. They included a Turk, two Turkish-German dual nationals, a Hungarian, a Kosovan and a Greek, according to police. 
 
Sonboly killed himself after his murderous spree with the 9 mm Glock pistol he had bought on the internet. 
 
His attack, which began at a McDonald&#39;s branch, also left 35 people injured. 
&nbsp; 
&#39;Munich attacker- a victim of bullying&#39;&nbsp; 
 
Steinkraus-Koch said Sonboly had spent two months in a psychiatric unit last year. He suffered anxiety attacks and &quot;social phobias&quot;, according to documents found in his bedroom. 
 
Police also found medication, but it was not clear whether he had been taking it. He had continued treatment as an outpatient after his release from hospital. 
 
He also appeared to have been a victim of bullying by other pupils at his school, filing a complaint against three of his tormentors in 2012. 
 
But none of these youngsters were among the shooting spree victims, police stressed. 
 
They added there was no evidence that any of the dead were lured to the McDonald&#39;s branch by promises of discounts that Sonboly had sent out from a fake Facebook account, an act interior minister Thomas de Maiziere has described as &quot;particularly underhand&quot;. 
 
Sonboly was obsessed with Anders Behring Breivik, whose massacre of 77 people in Norway came exactly five years before his own shooting spree. 
 
But police also believe the teenager was influenced by a previous shooting in Winnenden, southwest Germany in 2009, when a 17-year-old shot 15 people in his former school before killing himself. 
 
Born to Iranian parents who came to Germany in the 1990s as asylum-seekers, Sonboly lived in social housing in Munich&#39;s well-heeled Maxvorstadt neighbourhood. 
 
Video footage from Friday apparently shows Sonboly on a car park roof in a heated exchange with a man on a nearby balcony. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m German, I was born here,&quot; the black-clad assailant replies after the man swore at him, using curse words for foreigners. 
 
Of Shiite Muslim origin, Sonboly appears to have converted to Christianity. 
 
(AFP)

Investigators said they saw obvious link between the killings and Norway massacre reported five years ago

The teenager who shot dead nine people at a Munich shopping mall spent a year planning the rampage but selected his victims at random, officials said today. Details are emerging of gunman David Ali Sonboly as a depressed 18-year-old who was obsessed with mass killings and had long struggled with his mental health. Friday's shooting spree sparked a terror alert, with Europe on edge following a string of attacks claimed by the Islamic State group, but investigators have ruled out that Sonboly had any link with the jihadists. However, he appears to have planned the assault with chilling precision, with Bavarian police chief Robert Heimberger telling a press conference today that Sonboly had visited the site and taken photos during a year of preparation. Chief prosecutor Thomas Steinkraus-Koch added that the gunman had not "deliberately selected" his victims, dismissing speculation that Sonbaly sought to target foreigners. Most of the dead -- who were mainly teenagers -- were foreign nationals. They included a Turk, two Turkish-German dual nationals, a Hungarian, a Kosovan and a Greek, according to police. Sonboly killed himself after his murderous spree with the 9 mm Glock pistol he had bought on the internet. His attack, which began at a McDonald's branch, also left 35 people injured. 'Munich attacker- a victim of bullying' Steinkraus-Koch said Sonboly had spent two months in a psychiatric unit last year. He suffered anxiety attacks and "social phobias", according to documents found in his bedroom. Police also found medication, but it was not clear whether he had been taking it. He had continued treatment as an outpatient after his release from hospital. He also appeared to have been a victim of bullying by other pupils at his school, filing a complaint against three of his tormentors in 2012. But none of these youngsters were among the shooting spree victims, police stressed. They added there was no evidence that any of the dead were lured to the McDonald's branch by promises of discounts that Sonboly had sent out from a fake Facebook account, an act interior minister Thomas de Maiziere has described as "particularly underhand". Sonboly was obsessed with Anders Behring Breivik, whose massacre of 77 people in Norway came exactly five years before his own shooting spree. But police also believe the teenager was influenced by a previous shooting in Winnenden, southwest Germany in 2009, when a 17-year-old shot 15 people in his former school before killing himself. Born to Iranian parents who came to Germany in the 1990s as asylum-seekers, Sonboly lived in social housing in Munich's well-heeled Maxvorstadt neighbourhood. Video footage from Friday apparently shows Sonboly on a car park roof in a heated exchange with a man on a nearby balcony. "I'm German, I was born here," the black-clad assailant replies after the man swore at him, using curse words for foreigners. Of Shiite Muslim origin, Sonboly appears to have converted to Christianity. (AFP)

'Lone Munich attacker planned attack for a year, randomly chose victims'

Oil prices fell in early trade on Thursday, with Brent futures struggling to defend $50 per barrel as fears over strike outages in Norway faded and as Nigeria&#39;s production improved. 
 
Brent Blend is a type of sweet crude oil that is used as a benchmark for the prices of other crude oils. It&nbsp;is most often found in parts of the North Sea off the coast of the UK&nbsp;and Norway. Brent blend makes up more than half of the world&#39;s globally traded supply of crude oil, which is why it makes an obvious choice for the benchmark of crude oil. 
 
International Brent crude oil futures were trading at $50.10 per barrel at 0126 GMT, down 51 cents, or 1 per cent, from their last settlement. US&nbsp;West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 38 cents, or 0.76 per cent, at $49.50 a barrel. 
 
Traders said the lower prices were a result of an improving supply outlook. 
 
Initial fears of sharp production cuts from a looming strike by Norway&#39;s oil and gas workers seemed to ease as output from the North Sea&#39;s biggest producer would only fall by about 7 per cent even in case of a walk-out, according to data from Norway&#39;s Petroleum Directorate. 
 
In Nigeria, violent attacks on the oil infrastructure knocked out some 600,000 barrels of daily oil production to around 1.25 million barrels per day (bpd) between January and mid-June. But a tentative ceasefire means output has recovered by 200,000-300,000 bpd since then. 
 
&quot;If sustainable, this ceasefire would pave the way for higher output, with the government optimistically aiming for a return to normal production by end-July,&quot; Goldman Sachs said, although it added that there was a risk of attacks resuming. 
 
Prior to the disruptions, Nigerian production stood around 2 million bpd. 
 
Goldman Sachs also said that production outages from Canadian wildfires since May, which peaked around 1.5 million bpd, would recover over the coming months and virtually end by September. 
 
In other regions, however, there were signs of a tightening market. 
 
The US&nbsp;Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday that crude stockpiles fell 4.1 million barrels in the week to June 24, the sixth consecutive week of drawdowns, to 526.6 million barrels. 
 
US&nbsp;crude oil production was at 8.62 million bpd, down from a peak of over 9.6 million bpd in June 2015. 
 
In the Middle East, OPEC&#39;s second biggest producer Iraq is set to see output fall for a second straight month in June. 
 
Iraq&#39;s seaborne exports in the first 29 days of June have averaged 3.14 million bpd, according to loading data tracked by Reuters and an industry source. That would be down 60,000 bpd from May. 
 
(Reuters)

Sharp production cuts from possible strike by Norway's oil workers seem to ease as output would fall only by 7 per cent in case of walk-out

Oil prices fell in early trade on Thursday, with Brent futures struggling to defend $50 per barrel as fears over strike outages in Norway faded and as Nigeria's production improved. Brent Blend is a type of sweet crude oil that is used as a benchmark for the prices of other crude oils. It is most often found in parts of the North Sea off the coast of the UK and Norway. Brent blend makes up more than half of the world's globally traded supply of crude oil, which is why it makes an obvious choice for the benchmark of crude oil. International Brent crude oil futures were trading at $50.10 per barrel at 0126 GMT, down 51 cents, or 1 per cent, from their last settlement. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 38 cents, or 0.76 per cent, at $49.50 a barrel. Traders said the lower prices were a result of an improving supply outlook. Initial fears of sharp production cuts from a looming strike by Norway's oil and gas workers seemed to ease as output from the North Sea's biggest producer would only fall by about 7 per cent even in case of a walk-out, according to data from Norway's Petroleum Directorate. In Nigeria, violent attacks on the oil infrastructure knocked out some 600,000 barrels of daily oil production to around 1.25 million barrels per day (bpd) between January and mid-June. But a tentative ceasefire means output has recovered by 200,000-300,000 bpd since then. "If sustainable, this ceasefire would pave the way for higher output, with the government optimistically aiming for a return to normal production by end-July," Goldman Sachs said, although it added that there was a risk of attacks resuming. Prior to the disruptions, Nigerian production stood around 2 million bpd. Goldman Sachs also said that production outages from Canadian wildfires since May, which peaked around 1.5 million bpd, would recover over the coming months and virtually end by September. In other regions, however, there were signs of a tightening market. The US Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday that crude stockpiles fell 4.1 million barrels in the week to June 24, the sixth consecutive week of drawdowns, to 526.6 million barrels. US crude oil production was at 8.62 million bpd, down from a peak of over 9.6 million bpd in June 2015. In the Middle East, OPEC's second biggest producer Iraq is set to see output fall for a second straight month in June. Iraq's seaborne exports in the first 29 days of June have averaged 3.14 million bpd, according to loading data tracked by Reuters and an industry source. That would be down 60,000 bpd from May. (Reuters)

Oil prices fall as supply outlook of Nigeria and Norway improves

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