LAS VEGAS, July 22 (UPI) -- The new Taser X3 stun gun is being marketed to U.S. young adults through the social networking offerings Facebook and Twitter, a company spokesman says.
Taser spokesman Steve Tuttle said his company is using the social networking service Twitter to offer a personality to the new Taser model that may appeal to young customers, the Las Vegas Sun reported Wednesday.
"Never thought I'd get so excited about the feel of a safety switch," the model's imaginary X3 personality said via Twitter. "But wait until you feel it -- smooooooth."
Media consultant Dan Zarella said humanizing a Taser product can be risky given the dangerous nature of the stun gun.
"There's some risk involved," Zarella told the Sun, "that somebody is going to take them to task for making light of such a serious thing, but no good social media is without risk."
Tuttle maintains any marketing risks are worth the potential of attracting younger consumers.
"We want to get that generation. This keeps Taser from being a dinosaur," he said.