A new country has appeared on social networks in recent days: Listenbourg. “I’m sure Americans don’t even know the name of this country,” mocked a user, map of the country in support. Thousands of people added: “Have you not been to school, those who do not know this country? »
No, you didn’t miss anything in your history-geography class while chatting with the neighbor. And no, the Iberian Peninsula did not suddenly extend into this last weekend of October. The Listenbourg was invented from scratch on social networks. And in just a few days he is already very well known.
FAKE OFF
It all starts with a joke. In recent years, many youtubeurs or even tiktokeurs have fun making vox pops. The principle is simple: ask one or more questions to different people arrested in the street. Among the hundreds of videos of this type published on social networks, a certain category is very popular: the questions of geography asked of Americans. Many answers are totally wrong, which amuses the French a lot. To the question, what is the capital of Europe, some answer France.
The Internet user behind the creation of Listenbourg wanted to make fun of this low level in geography. But the publication of this map of Europe, on October 30, on Twitter, ignited the web. Some have created accounts on social networks: External Ministry of Listenbourg, Embassy of Listenbourg… A Wikipedia page, a flag, a hymn and even a map of the regions have been invented. Some even go so far as to publish pictures of their last holidays in the country.
Personalities take over
And it’s not just Internet users who have fun with this invention. The official account of the 2024 Olympic Games reacted: “The number of Olympic delegations for #Paris2024 goes from 206 to 207 with the arrival of Listenbourg. Welcome the ekip ✨ »
And they’re not the only ones surfing this trend. The tiktok account of the Route du Rhum water race has announced the participation of a skipper from Listenbourg. For his part, the former presidential candidate, Jean Lassalle, posted : “I was yesterday at the agriculture festival in #listenbourg. Thank you to the breeders for allowing me to visit one of the last artisanal wool workshops in the country. Brands also benefit. Innocent published: “Flash info: our juices are now available at Listenbourg. »
Some Internet users have even imagined the reaction of Americans if they realized this joke. Montages were made, featuring a presenter from the American channel Fox News presenting the Listenbourg.