Ah, April Fools’ Day – the one day a year when it’s socially acceptable to question everything and trust no one. The exact origins of this mischievous day are shrouded in mystery, but it’s been keeping us on our toes for a good few centuries now.
This year, some brands truly outdid themselves with their pranks – though we didn’t notice quite so many from the big players like Google and Steam (maybe we were looking in the wrong place?). Here are some of the more creative April Fools’ pranks we spotted and particularly enjoyed…
Yahoo’s “Touch Grass” keyboard
You might recall us writing about the perils of trend-hopping in our recent blog post on content creation mistakes to avoid. But Yahoo jumped on Gen Z lingo for April Fools’ and, in our opinion, they did a cracking job.
Yahoo decided to take the phrase “touch grass” quite literally. They introduced the “Yahoo Agricultural Interface” – a keyboard made entirely of grass. Because who wouldn’t want to feel the fresh dew under their fingertips while typing out emails? What could possibly go wrong when it needs watering?
It’s a clever nod to Gen Z slang, which makes us Millennials cringe a bit, but let’s be honest – it’s fun to mess around with and make The Kids Of Today turn inside out from embarrassment. Graham and Heather greatly enjoy using The Lingo on their friends’ kids – but in the wrong way, of course.
Supposedly, this keyboard is a reminder to step away from screens and reconnect with nature. Or maybe it’s just an elaborate way to get soil in your USB ports. Either way, we respect the effort. And this is probably our favourite because it’s so ridiculous.
Nutella’s sweet retreat
Next, Nutella had us dreaming (and drooling) over their Instagram announcement: a Nutella-themed Airbnb in New York. Imagine a holiday where every corner is adorned with Nutella, from the bedspread to the bathroom towels. (Yes, okay, it’s just the branding – forgive us for getting overexcited.)
For us at Sox, this would be a dangerously delicious getaway. Our love (read: addiction) for Nutella is so intense that keeping a jar at home is a recipe for spoonfuls of regret. (We genuinely can’t keep it in the house past Pancake Day because we both just attack the jar with a spoon.)
The post even showcased some “quality” (and we use that term loosely) photoshopped images of the Nutella haven:
We’re a little disappointed this was a joke, to be honest. We could really ruin our waistlines with a week spent there…
LEGO’s hairy situation
They unveiled “previous plans” for LEGO minifigures sporting real hair, featuring styles like The Ringo, original mop top. To complete the look, they planned to introduce tiny accessories, including miniature brushes, combs, and even shampoo “for minifigures and you!”
While the idea of grooming our LEGO figures is amusing, we’re not sure we’re ready for the maintenance that comes with it… Also, it feels a bit… Gross? Unsettling? Like, is it real hair? Let’s not think too hard about that.
While we at Sox Digital didn’t partake in any pranks this year, we appreciate the creative mischief that other brands often bring to the table on April Fools’ Day. It’s a good reminder not to take life too seriously – and to always fact-check things before taking them as gospel. Because you never know when someone might be pulling your leg… or your LEGO’s hair.