Snapchat and Taco Bell, two of America's most unhealthy and beloved pastimes, are now together at last. Why? To make Taco Bell some money. Maybe. Even they're not really sure.
But there's plenty of baseless enthusiasm and penis jokes:
We're on @snapchat. Username: tacobell. Add us. We’re sending all of our friends a secret announcement tomorrow! #Shhh
— Taco Bell (@TacoBell) May 1, 2013
Internet sour cream and/or dickpic
@tacobell @snapchat ooohhhhhh!!
— MaryIrene Marek (@MaryIrene) May 1, 2013
But they're likely to be disappointed. Taco Bell, a company rep tells me, is just using Snapchat for a "special announcement today" (spoiler: probably a new kind of taco). It's asking you to become its "friend" on Snapchat so that it can send you a ten-second video advertisement for this taco product, solely in the hopes that you will go out and buy one or five. Taco Bell, to the dismay of many hundred teens around the world, isn't going to click through pictures of your friend's butt and spit out its coffee. It's a fast food company, not your sister's roommate.
As the company's rep puts it in admirably plain adspeak: "If you recall, [Taco Bell] did Vine to announce the Cool Ranch DLT, so it is definitely about TB being relevant and first in anything they can." The rep wasn't even sure whether Taco Bell will ever use the account again.
This is a gimmick. This is your (Tex-Mex?) uncle putting on a backwards baseball cap. That's fine! Fast food is all about gimmicks, and Christ knows I enjoy the hell out of a poison taco every now and then
It's just going to be a taco video. Maybe you'll watch it. Maybe you'll buy one. Maybe we'll all eat one together. Maybe you'll make a new friend today—but it'll be a cashier at Taco Bell, not a faceless picture wizard on Snapchat.