Attention Penguins! With #MothersDay fast approaching, we were wondering… what are you getting #YourMum?
— Penguin Books UK (@PenguinUKBooks) March 9, 2015
But Twitter users were quick to point out that the phrase "Your Mum" is often used by young people as insult or the punchline to an offensive joke.
Whoever came up with @PenguinUKBooks #YourMum hashtag definitely didn't go to my school, where it was the response to most insults
— Jess Brammar (@jessbrammar) March 9, 2015
#YourMum is so dumb she ran a twitter competition with the hashtag #YourMum @PenguinUKBooks
— Joe (@JoeHickers) March 9, 2015
@dis_regarded I'm bored and eaisily pleased.....like #yourmum @PenguinUKBooks
— UnsophistiKated (@_kateness) March 9, 2015
Looking for a nice book on mindfulness for #YourMum - she'll need it after last night weeeeeey
— Mollie Goodfellow (@hansmollman) March 9, 2015
The publisher was quick to acknowledge that it was possibly not the best choice of hashtag:
Thanks for pointing our #YourMum has an alternative meaning you guys! Now back to the books...
— Penguin Books UK (@PenguinUKBooks) March 9, 2015
But it wasn't long before Penguin also got in on the action:
@PenguinUKBooks #YourMum is so cheap she only reads #LittleBlackClassics
— Penguin Classics UK (@classicpenguins) March 11, 2015
The hashtag #YourMum was trending on Twitter on 9 March, and has left some people wondering whether it was all a PR ploy:
Hard to tell whether Penguin's #YourMum was intended or not. Either way, we're all talking about Penguin. Proof will be in sales figures.
— Chris Lee (@CMRLee) March 9, 2015
I think @PenguinUKBooks know exactly what they're doing... #YourMum
— Charlotte (@charlotterach) March 9, 2015
This is a stunt right? #yourmum as a hashtag? SERIOUSLY???? pic.twitter.com/DtOTXXrLCf
— Lauren Wilden (@laurenwilden) March 9, 2015
@neilmorrison @MervynDinnen @PenguinUKBooks IMHO, it's all a wonderfully crafted publicity stunt...
— Callum Saunders (@callumsaunders) March 9, 2015
