Love or loathe it the vuvuzela is officially a viral sensation

Love it or loathe it, the vuvuzela is the sound of World Cup 2010 South Africa. The plastic horn’s droning tones have caused huge debate, from people who think it brings a bit of rhythm and music to the match to those who would rather have their teeth drilled than hear it. It’s official though, it’s a viral sensation.

On Twitter it’s got its own hashtag, #vuvuzela, its own symbol ||======<() <<<<< !!!!!!!! and even its own account, sample tweet: BUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

There’s over ten iPhone apps at time of writing, including iVuvuzela, Vuvuzela 2010, Vuvuzela World Cup and Virtual Vuvuzela to name just a few. Most of the apps work from the the user blowing into phone’s mic and converting it into the drone.

The first of the apps has clocked up over 1 million downloads, that said the real thing is far more fun and Sainsbury’s already sold 22,000 red vuvuzelas in the 12 hours before England’s game against the US.

There have been countless comics and pictures too, but if any further proof was needed that it’s a viral hit, well there’s now a Downfall clip. The bunker scene from the film about Hitler’s final days has been sub-titled to show everything from anger that the iPad won’t support Flash, to Nick Griffin’s rage at the BNP membership lists being published, it’s the ultimate mark of an internet phenomenon. Now the dictator is upset about those horns.

Image Credit: Wiki Commons