Facebook has decided to disable the Whopper Sacrifice application. It’s interesting that they would shut down an application that has proved so popular, but perhaps for Facebook, an application that reduces your friend list is bad for business? I can’t think of any other reason they would do so. Over the time that the Whopper Sacrifice campaign was live, 233,906 friends were sacrificed by Facebook users in the pursuit of a free Whopper.
Update: TechCrunch is reporting that Facebook is citing “privacy issues” as the reason they have disabled the application.
35 responses so far ↓
1 anon // Jan 14, 2009 at 8:28 pm
lawl
2 WTF?! // Jan 14, 2009 at 10:02 pm
3 Mac Donald // Jan 14, 2009 at 10:52 pm
You will never beat me! Ricardo Montalban switched over to your whopper just last night, and you see how he ended up.
BIGMACK!
4 Brett // Jan 14, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Pretty crazy, business being the primary conceivable reason they would shut it down. Wonder if they would do the equivalent if it was a facebook-member created app…
5 Anonymous // Jan 14, 2009 at 11:09 pm
change that to a big buford and id sacrifice my entire facebook site…
oh wait, i already did.
6 anon // Jan 14, 2009 at 11:55 pm
buzz keeeeel
7 Shawn // Jan 15, 2009 at 2:27 am
I just find it amazing what people will do to get something for free or at a discount. On the other hand I already know which of my friends I would have gotten rid to get the free whopper.
8 Lindsey // Jan 15, 2009 at 4:59 am
I disagree with the author’s interpretation of this situation. This app was probably shut down because it goes against the entire point of facebook. Doesn’t have anything to do with making money. I mean, why would facebook lose profit simply because someone deleted 10 friends that were probably random people who friended them who they don’t know or care about?
9 reddit.com: what's new online! // Jan 15, 2009 at 6:00 am
10 Facebook Elminates Whopper Plan « Paul Richardson // Jan 15, 2009 at 8:56 am
[...] Paul Richardson …twentysomething… « Morning Music Facebook Elminates Whopper Plan January 15, 2009 Uh, oh. It looks like the Facebook powers that be decided it was bad news to have friendships lost over a Whopper. They’ve axed the Burger King application… [...]
11 Sterling Order of Knights :: View topic - ANGRY WHOPPER! // Jan 15, 2009 at 10:17 am
12 Mike // Jan 15, 2009 at 11:28 am
Shawn, be real. Are you telling me that you don’t have any friends on facebook who you NEVER talk to anymore? Really, it’s not that hard to see. I would certainly cut some terrible people I’ve added to save a few bucks. Everyone’s got ‘em, and if I can clean my list while getting a free burger, that’s even friggin sweeter.
13 Edward // Jan 15, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I sacificed 10 friends that I knew would add me back.
14 Your page is now on StumbleUpon! // Jan 15, 2009 at 2:17 pm
15 Scarlett // Jan 15, 2009 at 2:32 pm
I have several facebook “friends” that I would sacrifice for a piece of fast food. In fact, I don’t really care for half of the people who have “friended” me! I’d sacrifice them for a lot less!
16 rossitron // Jan 15, 2009 at 2:44 pm
i think this is a great ad campaign. i think the idea behind the app was to get attention for a new burger, and that’s what it did. and now it’s in the news doubly because facebook is shutting it down. and it was some naughty, but innocent, fun for anyone who participated.
shawn, i think you’re a little off on this one. it’s really not a huge deal to delete someone, especially someone you haven’t talked to in years. it’s hardly anything that would warrant the sort of knee-jerk “oh-my-goodness-i-can’t-believe -they-did-THAT-for-a-free-burger” reaction or the “amazing what people will do to get something for free” reaction you had. just sayin.
17 Tyler // Jan 15, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I think that not having a Facebook in the first place is probably the best idea.
18 FARK.com: (4144762) Facebook disables Whopper Sacrifice application after Facebook users cut 233,906 people from their friend lists in pursuit of a free Whopper // Jan 15, 2009 at 5:38 pm
19 Bye-Bye Whopper Sacrifice | SNACKOSAURUS REX // Jan 15, 2009 at 5:51 pm
[...] Eick at So Good points out that a Facebook app which removes friends could be bad business, so maybe that’s [...]
20 Dan // Jan 15, 2009 at 9:56 pm
The Facebook shutdown was likely planned. It’s good to end the campaign quickly, while it’s still fresh on everyone’s minds.
21 Burger King Cancels Whopper Sacrifice Facebook Application | ComputerFinance.net // Jan 15, 2009 at 10:18 pm
[...] As for us, we are going to go lay on our friend the couch and lovingly fall in love with our friend the friendly television. [From: sogoodblog.com] [...]
22 KITCHEN EXP // Jan 15, 2009 at 11:07 pm
ah….nice facebookapp I want to get it!now,,,
23 Hillary // Jan 16, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Facebook now has censorship?! Do they really need more pageviews? I missed your original post on the Whopper Sacrifice – pretty funny idea from Burger King!
24 Chris // Jan 16, 2009 at 8:06 pm
I heard about this on the radio this morning. I was looking forward to sacrificing some “friends” after work.
I am surprised facebook didn’t see the potential for people to actually increase page views by friending strangers only to sacrifice them. Maybe it’s the whole stalker mentality they don’t want to promote…
25 Lee // Jan 19, 2009 at 12:37 pm
i’m thinking about sacrificing a few friends for an in-and-out burger.
26 Facebook Disables Whopper Sacrifice - Washington Blog Posts - Foodbuzz // Jan 21, 2009 at 3:05 pm
27 Burger King Cancels Whopper Sacrifice Facebook Application - Switched // Jan 22, 2009 at 12:31 pm
28 phd.scdiplo.com • View topic - Whopper Sacrifice proves TOO popular! // Jan 25, 2009 at 1:36 am
29 Ian Allen // Jan 25, 2009 at 3:45 pm
This leaves me wanting… to buy MORE burger king stock!!!
30 tim // Jan 29, 2009 at 10:11 pm
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/fashion/29facebook.html?em
31 Whopper Sacrifice: Pics, Videos, Links, News // Jan 31, 2009 at 9:58 pm
32 LostKnightsRPG.org ~ View topic - Cat Soup // Mar 5, 2009 at 11:15 am
33 GeekLikeMe :: Weekdaily // Mar 12, 2009 at 9:50 pm
34 Drew Curtis' FARK.com -- Geek Archives for '2009-01-18 23:59:59' // Mar 13, 2009 at 9:37 pm
35 Facebook Blows A Whopper Of An Opportunity // Jul 25, 2010 at 8:00 pm
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