'Viva Vuvuzela!'

The vuvuzela is out of this world according to certain commentary posted on the social networking sites Twitter and Facebook on Saturday.

"The sound of the vuvuzela is the only thing that can be heard from space," says Khaya Dlanga, a political commentator on Twitter.

Parusha Naidoo, meanwhile, shares some scientific facts about the instrument: "A jet engine reaches 125bd. stadium full of @Vuvuzelas reaches 135db!"

The twitter site on a daily basis lists ten topics that are most talked about worldwide.

On Saturday's list, one of them is "Vuvuzela", and another "Fifa World Cup".

Some people on the site have even been complaining that the turnaround time to upload comments was slowing down.

Stafford Masie from Johannesburg says this is due to the high volume of posts about the Fifa 2010 Soccer World Cup.

"Just spoke 2 friend working @ Twitter head office in USA. ZA definitely the reason they're having capacity problems :) Wow!!! Viva Vuvuzela!"

South Arican comedian Trevor Noah personified the vuvuzela, saying "If Julius Malema was an instrument he'd be a Vuvuzela - Loud, obnoxious and on every South Africans lips!"

Another tweeter going by the name 'Mzanzi girl' even raised health concerns around the vuvuzela.

"There's a new condition affecting South Africa, Vuvuzela lip".

Across the world, the vuvuzela has both friends and foe.

Tweeter Berkin Secme from Istanbul is not a fan: "Wasting millions of dollars of FIFA.So please for the football's sake, do not play vuvuzela,it's really irritating even on TV."

However, Alistair Mcinsey from New York sings its praises: "I love the vuvuzela...We need some of that in our country".

Perhaps most exciting for some - and alarming for others - is that vuvuzelas are spreading their reach across the world.

Kathrine Stokes tells the Twitter universe: "The scary thing for us Brits is that Argos r selling vuvuzela. U've got a lot of hiding to do".

On Facebook, the atmosphere was similar with thousands of people around the world expressing their liking of the instrument, while others voiced their hatred of it.

A group had been set up called "Vuvuzela" and more then 5 600 people had commented on it.

"More Vuvuzelas keep them alive whole world cup!!!," said Ola Martensson from Kristianstad, Sweden

"Do they sell vuvzelas at Wawa? which aisle?" asks an eager Vuvuzela fan Kevin Coyle from Philadelphia. Facebooker Sergio Mendico uses the site to show his support for Argentina ahead of their match with Nigeria in Ellis Park on Saturday.

"Vuvuzela argentinaaaaaaaaaaa," said the Puerto Rican from San Juan.

Mehmet Cemal from Brighton in the United Kingdom said he hated the instrument.

"I've never seen a stupid thing like a vuvuzela in my life. I watched in mute all the matches..:)))".

According to Agence France Press, German municipal authorities have banned the instrument from outdoor fan venues where people are gathering to watch live broadcasts of the games.

German television producers have also said they are concerned that television commentators could be drowned out by the noise of the instruments. - Sapa