The Free Hugs Campaign appears to have begun in 2004[1], and was widely publicized in 2006 by a music video. It involves individuals who offer hugs to strangers in public settings. The campaign is an example of a random act of kindness, a selfless act performed by someone for the sole reason of making others feel better. The original organizer has stated in interviews that the purpose is not to get names, phone numbers, or dates.[2]


[edit] History
Juan Mann in the original Free Hugs video at the Pitt Street Mall, Sydney, AustraliaA video on YouTube was released on September 22, 2006, and by November, 2006, had gained over six million[3] views. According to the video summary, it was recorded in Sydney. In the video, the main character who is giving out hugs, (identified as "Juan Mann", a pseudonym[4]), walks through the Pitt Street Mall holding up a sign with the words FREE HUGS written on it. Music for the video is provided by Sick Puppies, an Australian band that "Mann" met a year earlier.[2] Shimon Moore, the lead singer of the Sick Puppies who worked at the mall, shot the footage which he later compiled into a video for the song.[2]

Initial distrust of Juan's motivations gives way to a gradual accretion of people willing to be hugged, with other huggers (male and female) helping distribute them. After some time, security guards, then police tell them they must stop, as Mann has not obtained public liability insurance for his actions[4]. Mann and his companions then began a petition which reached 10,000 signatures. At that point, the authorities walk away, but not before being hugged by some of the participants.


[edit] Publicity and expansion
In the video Juan Mann is interviewed by reporter Angela Bishop from Ten News.
The video clip has received a largely positive reaction on YouTube, with over 23,000 ratings at an average of 4/5 stars, and more than 5.4 million page views (as of November 5, 2006), making it the 18th most viewed of all videos on the site.
On September 27, 2006, the video was played on Good Morning America in the United States.
A college student, Yu Tzu-wei, began a local campaign in Taipei in October 2006 to "hug everyone in Taiwan".[5]
On October 7, 2006 A free hugs in Tel-Aviv Israel video was uploaded to YouTube.[6],
A mass "free hugs" day was scheduled at Pitt Street Mall for the New South Wales Labour Day (October 1, 2006) following the massive YouTube and media coverage.[7]
On October 15, 2006 the Free Hugs Campaign was broadcast on Channel 9's "60 Minutes" as part of a segment on YouTube.
In late October 2006 several Free Hugs Campaigns were organized all over Italy, in a number of city centres: Milan[8], Rome[9], Novara[10] and Bari[11].
On October 27, 2006 Students from McKendree College were featured in news media, including MLB.com, for giving free hugs before game five of the World Series in front of Busch Stadium.[citation needed]
The Free Hugs creators were interviewed by WHO.com.[12]
On October 30, 2006, "Mann" was invited by Oprah Winfrey to appear on her show Oprah after her producer's doctor saw the Free Hugs video on YouTube. Juan Mann made an appearance outside her studio that morning, offering free hugs to the crowd waiting to see the taping of that day's episode. Oprah's camera crews caught several people in the audience hugging Mann as the morning progressed.[13]
On November 4, 2006, a new video entry was added to YouTube by Juan Mann thanking the people that watched the video for their positive response to his video as well as the support they've shown in addition to starting Free Hugs campaigns in other countries. Mann took the opportunity to promote the launch of a charity initiative founded by himself and Shimon Moore called Free Help, intended to cut out the middle man by allowing dedicated good Samaritans to render any assistance they can to those in need.
On November 6, 2006 an eleven-strong group led by a twenty-four year old man named 'Baigu' tried the same campaign in Shanghai, only to be detained for one hour for not having a permit to hold a gathering in a public place[1].
Since the clip first aired on YouTube, Free Hugs Campaigns have been started in over 24 countries.

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