This is off topic of my usual posts of inspiration. I am going out on a limb here, but, it is something that I feel needs to be talked about since Twitter is the new craze with all the celebrities getting accounts.
In the last few months, I have seen Twitter transform from a community where people can exchange ideas and support each others endeavors to a place akin to a popularity contest. When I first joined in December, there were not that many celebrities on the site. There were expert marketers, bloggers, non profit organizations, technical support, authors, motivational speakers, educators, philosophers, and health professionals.
While self-promotion is a part of being on Twitter, for the most part I always looked at Twitter as a place to build relationships, networks, and meet people in your field. The communication went both ways and it was a supportive environment. Many of these people are successful in their field and are willing to pass that on to others. These folks are still there. But, things have changed. Slightly.
Today the top people followed on Twitter are celebrities.
Recently, Ashton Kutcher promoted a race between himself and CNN Breaking News. He won. He is the first person on Twitter to reach 1 million followers. Is that so difficult for a celebrity to do? I am not against that goal. However, if the goal is only that and nothing else, what is the point besides winning a popularity contest? If you can reach 1 million people and attempt to change the world in a positive way and reach out to others, that is exceptional.
However, if a celebrity only follows a small, small handful of other celebrities, how is that 'communicating'? Steve Buscemi follows 1 person! So, his Twitter page is pretty much his own Tweets! There are many other celebrities that follow a tiny amount of people and most of those are other famous people - promoting each other!
While I am not against Oprah and I understand she has done a lot of good in this world to help others. However, she already has a huge media following. Why does she have to come to Twitter and take away from what it really stands for? A place for unknowns to connect with others all over the world in a microblogging environment. It is not People Magazine.
I look at it as a small town having a block party. People trying to get to know each other and listen to the thoughts and ideas of others, learn about the important endeavors in their lives, and give some support to each other. Neighbors meeting other neighbors. What would happen if a few celebrities popped in the party and kept to themselves. Didn't mingle. They wanted everyone to hear what they had to say, but not listen to what any of these small town neighbors had to say? How would the partygoers feel after the awe-struckness faded? Like their party was crashed and overpowered by celebrities! I thought Twitterville was a community, not celebrity promotion.
Have you looked at some of the celebrities Tweets?? Pretty mundane, a lot of self-promotion or promotion of other celebrities! That is not really using their power of media exposure to help others. If a non-celebrity person had those type of Tweets ("Just had scrambled eggs for breakfast" or "vote for me!"), NO ONE would follow them.
I am not anti-celebrity. I just think there are so many other forums-movie premieres, Hollywood, day time talk shows, late night television, the Red Carpet, E!, and other cable TV shows for the celebrities. What about the little people? How can they get noticed if constantly being overshadowed by celebrities? That place used to be Twitter.
I want to point out that there are a few celebrities on Twitter that actually are positively contributing to the Twitter atmosphere.
- Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) creates Tweets that promote good causes like cancer awareness and other organizations like www.soldiersangels.org and www.starlight.org.au.
- Ex-supermodel Kathy Ireland (@KathyIreland) who no longer considers herself a celebrity and really is a mom who justs wants to reach out and help other moms. Kathy has conversations with many moms all over the world, everyday people looking for inspiration.
- Actress Mariel Hemingway (@MarielHemingway) communicates with 186 other Tweeters, many of them not celebrities.
- MC Hammer (@MCHammer) actually follows over 26,000 people and Tweets with them as well.
- BBC's radio host, Jonathan Ross (@wossy) feels 3,375 people are worth following and building a relationship with.
- Shaquille O’Neal (@therealshaq) feels that there are some people that have something worthwhile listening to. Granted many are the "Girls_Gone_Wild" type, but he still has 488 people that he follows.
- Even Demi Moore (@MrsKutcher) is following 78 of her fans and posts some things of interest outside of herself and husband.
But, those are in the minority. I won't get into the numbers of many of the other celebrity Twitters. Following less than .01% of your followers is like saying, "What I have to say is important, but I really don't care what the rest of you have to say. I am just here to shine and gather followers." News flash: Famous people are not the only people with great ideas. There are some amazing people I have met on Twitter who may be worth these celebrities taking the time to get to know. If not, my question to them really becomes, Why are you here??
If the celebrities are not communicating, but only broadcasting self-promotion and other celebrities, isn't that just 'US Weekly'? Is that what people signed up for? I didn't. Maybe there should be a new website called "Celebrity Twitter" so all the celebrities can talk amongst themselves.
Twitter is becoming mainstream and that loses its appeal for a lot of people. Real people that want to talk to real people. I am not expecting Oprah or Ellen Degeneres to take the time to talk with each and every follower. But, is it asking too much from them to listen to even a few of their fans?
This is only the beginning. Soon, celebrities will start promoting advertising, movies, TV shows, and Twitter will become commercials and celebrity gossip. The bar on who to follow will be raised and the little guys will certainly get lost in the noise.
Is there anywhere the little guy can still go and get away from the celebrity madness? That place is no longer Twitter.
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