Instagram’s “World Record Egg”

An Egg Draws Attention to Mental Health

Photo+of+an+egg%2C+recently+taken+in+Abington%2C+similar+to+the+one+posted+to+Instagram

Abby Joyce

Photo of an egg, recently taken in Abington, similar to the one posted to Instagram

Abby Joyce, Social Media Manager

On Friday, Jan. 4, an image of an egg was posted to Instagram entitled “World Record Egg” in the hopes of receiving over 18 million likes. The record holder for likes on social media had been established back on Feb. 6, 2018, by Kylie Jenner, the television personality, business-owner, model, and social media influencer who had uploaded the first ever photo of her daughter, Stormi Webster. Jenner’s photo set the record for highest amount of likes of a photo with 18.7 million likes.

When the World Record Egg was posted to Instagram with the hashtags #LikeTheEgg, #EggSoldiers, and #EggGang. It was a mystery what the egg symbolized. Then, on Feb. 3, Super Bowl Sunday, the meaningful message behind the  photo was revealed.

The initial challenge behind posting this photo was to have the users of Instagram band together and gain more likes than Jenner’s photo. Not only did the egg beat Jenner’s record, but it far exceeded it at 52.4 million likes.

It can show  that no matter how lonely, inescapable, or helpless one’s situation may seem, they can learn that they are never alone and that a small act can grant them the help they need.

— Abby Joyce

Chris Godfrey , the creator of the Instagram account @world_record_egg said in an interview with the New York Times that he chose to promote an egg because “an egg has no gender, race or religion. An egg is an egg, it’s universal.” As Jenner is such a widely known influencer, Godfrey hoped something that held such simplicity as an egg, could beat such an idol in our society.

With the eruption in popularity of this challenge, the television streaming network Hulu partnered with the creator of the egg post, Chris Godfrey, to make a commercial that aired during Super Bowl, on February 3.

In the Super Bowl commercial, the egg is given a “voice” and is shown to be put under pressure. Eventually the egg cracks and breaks into pieces. The text above the egg, speaking from its perspective says, “The pressure of social media is getting to me. If you’re struggling too, talk to someone. We got this.”

The message portrayed through this add was a brilliant way of offering help and attention to viewers to bring awareness to mental health. The ad brings users to the website MentalHealthAmerica.net, which is a nonprofit organization that according to their website is, “dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and to promoting the overall mental health of all Americans.”

This whole phenomenon not only brought attention to the issue of mental health, but it also demonstrated the positive impact social media can have. It also showed every action has a reaction, even if that starting action is small. It can show  that no matter how lonely, inescapable, or helpless one’s situation may seem, they can learn that they are never alone and that a small act can grant them the help they need.

The ad says, “We got this,” meaning that we’re all in this together, and no one’s mental health should go unaccounted for. Hopefully, viewers could see that a small, seemingly unimportant act of togetherness can change the world.