The seven most awkward Twitter fails of 2016

Social media is a tricky beast to handle at the best of times and this year was no exception – at one point Twitter accidentally blocked its own chief executive from his Twitter feed. Everyone from Everton FC to the US State Department also suffered from embarrassing Twitter fails in 2016, with erroneous messages sent out (and spotted) before the damage could be undone.

Here's a rundown of the seven most awkward Twitter moments of the year:

When Kay Burley killed off Malcolm Muggeridge – again

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Beloved BBC broadcaster Cliff Michelmore died in March at the age of 96. But as tributes began to pour in, Sky News anchor Kay Burley accidentally paid her respects to another media personality, Malcolm Muggeridge, who died 26 years ago. She realised her mistake after followers corrected her but not before Muggeridge had begun trending on the site.

When Oprah suddenly had a tattoo… and a new face

As the 88th Academy Awards kicked off in Hollywood in February, fashionistas were busy sharing photographs of stars on the red carpet. Unfortunately one blog, Total Beauty, mistook Ghost actress Whoopi Goldberg for talk show host Oprah Winfrey, exclaiming that they had "no idea @Oprah was #tatted". The blog later apologised and even offered to donate $10,000 to charities chosen by Goldberg and Winfrey.

When Isis took up a strange pastime

Islamic State fighters are "shaving bears" to escape air strikes, NBC solemnly announced on its Twitter feed in February. After some confusion, it clarified that it meant "beards", but the Winnie the Pooh jokes had already been unleashed. "Correction: It was beards, not bears," the broadcaster declared. "Can't it be both?" one respondent lamented.

When Twitter blocked its own chief executive

Twitter has been clamping down on rogue accounts this year but went about its task of suspending the feeds of terrorists and other undesirables with such fervour that it managed to delete the account of its own chief executive. Site co-founder Jack Dorsey was briefly booted off his own creation in November. When his account was restored he had lost most of his 3.9 million followers. Dorsey laughed off the incident with a message that referenced the first-ever tweet: "Just setting up my twttr…again", he wrote, attributing the suspension to an "internal mistake".

When Australian MP Mike Baird tried to offer sympathy to Brussels victims

Politicians often struggle with social media but Australian MP Mike Baird was a rare exception, earning praise for his apparent internet savvy and entertaining tweets. This all came crashing down in his response to the terrorist attacks on Brussels, which seemingly incorporated a message from a social media adviser. "Tweet/FB option. Sydney, and all of NSW, stands with you Brussels," he wrote, before hastily re-posting without the first sentence. It had already emerged that Baird paid a social media expert $30,000 for 51 days' work designed to help him with his online strategy. Followers questioned whether the money was worth it.

When Everton had a great day out with its sister

Social media experts often advise their charges to make their corporate accounts more personal. The individual running Everton FC's Twitter feed apparently took that message a little too much to heart. "Best day out with the best sis in world" was followed by a couple of waving girl emojis – which stuck out somewhat in a feed otherwise filled with football information for fans. The message was swiftly deleted.

When the US State Department made a bad joke

The US State Department just wanted everyone to travel safely. But its attempts to remind Americans to be careful of scams abroad backfired when it tweeted: "Not a '10' in the US? Then not a ten overseas." Followers wondered why it was offering advice specifically for unattractive Americans. "Earlier tweet was, like, You ugly? Then ppl who come onto you abroad prob just want to rob you," one Tweeter explained. The department apologised for the message.