Jerry Bowles was on to something eight months ago when he wrote about the inanity of Twitter. With the rise of countless Hollywoodesque actors, athletes, and musicians using the 140-character microblog, the majority answer the question, “What are you doing?” and their updates are silly, stupid, and surreal.
Selections:
Lance Armstrong: “Just back from a hard 4.5 hrs on the mtb. 2 flats. And now I have 2 flat legs too.”
Soleil Moon Frye: “Okay, Heading out to meeting. Wish me luck. Lots of love to all of you!!!”
Penn Jillette: “It’s been so hot lately that our whole pool is hot bath temperature. I do laps and it’s a very weird experience to feel sweat while swimming”
Britney Spears: “Blondes do have more fun.”
Eddie Izzard: “Going to sleep now. Bloody early! But I finished another marathon today. That’s the 7th. Got to make it through this week.”
Ryan Seacrest: “Spoke to randy..hope to speak with paula privately overnight.”
Who cares? I neither follow their tweets–nor desire to. But if celebrities use Twitter like the above (and there are exceptions, ranging from MC Hammer and Kathy Ireland to Justin Timberlake who actively follow, reply, and retweet so-called normal people like you and me), what do their ego-stroking tweets say about their fans’ usage?
If Soleil Moon Frye wants to emulate CNN on Twitter with short bursts of text and links, so be it. But if John Smith and Jane Adams (who follow Soleil) start twittering like their role model, what will this mean to their fans?
I frequently see valueless tweets by everyday schmoes, but I’m cool with those monologues as they don’t monopolize one’s outgoing stream. It’s OK to chit chat and be in the moment now and then. I do it a lot. But I’m not using Twitter as a one-way broadcast channel–and unless you’re a news organization like CNN, you shouldn’t either.
Would Britney or Lance care about anyone’s tweet if it resembled their tweet? I wonder.
All I know is the next time you see someone walk around town with the following Venn diagram t-shirt, stop for a moment and consider that maybe Twitter is stupid.
Social media t-shirt
Twitter may, indeed, be a perfect vehicle for celebrity birdbrains like Britney Spears. But that doesn’t mean you have to do what she does–which on Twitter, is hardly anything but ego stroking and serving as an online inspiration for stalkers.
Related posts:
- Is Twitter Stupid?
- 10 Twitter Users Share Why They Use Twitter
- How to March in the #FollowFriday Twitter Parade
Comments:
Ari Herzog is an online media strategist and Newburyport City Councilor-Elect.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Ari,
I’m not sure why you’re so up in arms about how some celebrities are tweeting. I agree, I think Twitter works a lot better as a conversation than as a bullhorn. But that’s why I, for the most part, only follow people who are willing to be social rather than just a talking head without ears.
If you don’t like what some celebrities are doing on Twitter, don’t follow them. If their fans feel like they are getting something out of their relationship, then more power to them.
New from Ari Adler: Stupid is as stupid does
Funny — that tweet from Penn Jillette is virtually the same as one I saw from a law enforcement follower/ee a few weeks ago! She’s a triathlete, so it was a wee bit more authentic coming from her…. Is there such a thing as tweet-plagiarism?
New from Christa M. Miller: Media training via social media?
I think twitter would be better used as a company task & updates program than celebrity fad joke
Using twitter is just like everything else in the world. Those that aren’t very smart will let that shine when tweeting. Some of these celebrities just haven’t understood the social nature of Twitter yet and that it’s all about interacting with others.
That Venn Diagram T-shirt is hilarious by the way
All the best,
Eren
New from Eren Mckay: Christmas Gingerbread house plans decorations & Gingerbread man costume
Ari,
I wonder that you are hating on Twitter this way when it is the largest tag in your tag cloud… either every post is a hate, or there is something to be said about the platform. I agree the inanity can be intense… and I also admit I am on occasion guilty of the “heading to Los Cabos for Mexican, Yum!” tweet. At the same time, many of my clients are local. Most are really buying “me” when they contract with my company. And Los Cabos is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Tulsa. Is it bad that people actually know a little about me? I don’t think so… though I do try to keep the mundane to a minimum. The evil here isn’t the platform, it’s how its used (or abused). Stupid is as stupid does, right?
New from Mandy Vavrinak: Schizomedia