Research reveals that four out of 10 Brits have sent a text message they ‘instantly regretted’. These include embarrassing typos or autocorrect blunders, and frequent instances of ’emotional oversharing’.
Respondents also admitted to completely misjudging someone’s sense of humour, or attempting to flirt only to cringe about it later.
The research was commissioned by IRN-BRU and FUNKIN Cocktails, who have collaborated on a new Vodka Martini cocktail.
To celebrate its launch, the two brands have brought some of the nation’s less smooth messages to life through art by Babak Ganjei – replacing the soft drink’s bubbly fizz with a new smooth velvety texture.
The artwork can be viewed in pop-up galleries in London and Glasgow this weekend. Ashley Birch-Ruffell at FUNKIN commented: “Not everyone is a message maestro and our research shows the majority of us have experienced a heavy dose of cringe when chatting by text.”
“Babak has turned these fails into fine art and we’re so pleased to be able to share it.”
The study revealed that 70% have wanted to ‘crawl into a hole’ due to an embarrassing text, and as many as 19% confess this happens to them weekly, if not daily.
Steamy direct messages are among the most embarrassing texts, with a third admitting to having sent one and later wishing they hadn’t.
As for the less fortunate outcomes, while 23% have merely felt a sense of embarrassment, a minor 11% have had to engage in a ‘difficult conversation’ with a friend.
Kenny Nicholson at IRN-BRU commented: “These galleries are a chance to embrace those cringe moments.”
“To celebrate the first ever official IRN-BRU alcoholic cocktail, we wanted to take a moment to acknowledge some of the not so smooth moments which the nation are navigating every day.”
The BEEP Show is open to the public on 29th and 30th November at 2 Charlotte Road in London and Social Hub in Glasgow for visitors aged 18 and over.
