A Nevada license plate with the words “Go back to California” on it garnered more than 80,000 Facebook likes prior to the Nevada DMV recall. The plate’s audacious statement struck a chord and generated a great deal of online conversation, reflecting long-standing tensions between Californians and Nevadans.
Custom license plates are very popular among men, albeit not all requests are fulfilled. While some plates, like “SAUC3D” and “RAMP4GE,” were denied for potentially objectionable language, others, like “F4K3 T4XI” and “BUYAGRAM,” were rejected for suggesting illegal conduct.
This example illustrates how social media can transform a simple local message into a global conversation topic. Many people found humor in the plate, and depending on one’s point of view, it grew to represent either state pride or aggravation.
This episode demonstrates the unpredictable manner in which anything can attract public attention in a time when digital culture is pervasive in daily life. Whether intentional or not, the maker of this infamous plate had a significant influence on online culture and generated conversations beyond of Nevada.
