.

←

→

Ashton Kutcher might be King of Twitter, but I’m a Jester

April 18th, 2009 | Contest, Odd Ends, Social Media, Social Networking


No jesting here!

Ashton Kutcher might have been proclaimed King of Twitter by the Oprah show, but I’m a Jester. Well, I’ve been called Mayor more but I’m just another clown in the Twitterverse. Ashton though was called King because he’s got the most followers, but at least he’s no clown this time.

The thing about Ashton though is that he didn’t see it as about himself at all. On the Oprah show, Ashton made it clear that social media and social networking is about empowerment of the individual. The point he felt of being at 1 million followers along side CNN was that one person could compete and have their voice heard as well as a major media outlet.

His statements talked to how each person can be their own broadcaster. He also talked about Digg and how you and I can decide what’s the most important news.* Sadly, the hosts of the show were totally gaga about him being at a million and about trying to help Oprah send a tweet.

My opinion? That episode did not make Oprah or that group look real smart. Maybe they were just playing at being silly but it just seemed that they didn’t get it. It might have been the fact that they talked over Ashton and Ev both.

For me, Ashton’s being crowned a king by those folks is something I’ll ignore because he didn’t jump on the title. He sloughed it off as more about the statement that one person can have a voice, a large voice.

Bonus points to Ashton for using live video to draw in followers and making it light hearted. Negative karma points to CNN for taking a senior correspondent’s time to pimp out their Twitter ID.

Will I be following Mr. @aplusk? Not today. But then again, if I ever want to see Demi’s bottom I won’t have a problem signing up. He’s one of the most social media savvy folks I’ve heard on television.

What’s your take?

Please check out Ben Barden’s experience so far with this.

*Digg comes under fire for the rabid manipulators, but in principle it’s all about the users and what they consider news. Don’t be a hater.

Similar Posts:

Tags: , , , , ,

  • I loved the live video of him popping the champagne. I don't know how to explain it, but it truly seemed like something worth celebrating, at least for him. He was truly thrilled to be the first to 1mil.

    Tojosan = Mayor of Twitter, nvr 4get
  • Though I appreciate the moniker, I'll pass on the job my friend. :)

    If nothing else, he enjoyed himself. Why should we rob him of that? Good point.
  • I guess I see more of his point now, after your take. Now that he has a million followers, what's he going to do with/for them? Twitter is also all about community, and unless he follows the million back and actually interacts with them, I just see this as a publicity stunt.

    Oprah is a joke. It's not like she's going to Twitter herself, she'll most likely hand it off to a lackey, as I understand most celebrities do. She doesn't get it. She'll be off to the next shiny toy before long.

    Good post -- thanks for the thought provoking. :)
  • Thanks for your feedback. Most folks won't get it sadly. :(
  • Didn't see it but I wonder if a regular person could get up there... hmmm let's try it with @djRenaissance
  • For sure man, let's do it up with @djRenaissance.
  • "Empowerment of the individual"? "One person could compete and have their voice heard as well as a major media outlet"? Sorry, but Kutcher's a celebrity, not an average joe. When a Johnny Lunchpail or a Sally Officeworker gets one million followers, then those statements might have some validity. But until then, it's only going to be the big name stars and the famous (who also are the only "suggested users" Twitter offers new registrants when they first sign up) getting that kind attention because of the hundreds of thousands of star-struck dolts that follow them.
  • Excellent response Scott.

    Ashton isn't a regular joe. I do feel like though that what he said is true; any regular guy or gal can publish and get followed and give out news. Often faster than CNN for example.

    Our buddy, @newmediajim, is often at the front lines of where 'news' is happening. Our friends in SF when the earthquake hit; they were the news source. You see where I'm going. What he said is not relevant to himself, it is relevant to you and me.
  • punzhu
    I agree with Scott and tojosan; Scott's celebrity viewpoint is accurate, as is his common person comments. tojosan is correct in regards to the news front line moving from commercial news agencies to individuals. I followed Ashton on twitter and his facebook not because of his celebrity status (never heard of the guy before) but because of the individual aspect mentioned above. As for Oprah, I watched her for a few minutes years ago and that was enough for me.
  • I think that the impression that they really don't get it is accurate. My experience with getting people to use any kind of social media tools - and in fact my own personal experience - has been that most of them don't get it when they start using it, but those that really give it a try find a way to use it so that they do finally "get it". The beauty of the tools we have is that they support all the various ways that people can be social, not just one specific way or another.
  • Demi's bottom? I'm there.
  • Originally the story was that Ashton's rush to get 1 million followers was supposedly a 'contest' to get some malaria nets purchased for those in need. While a worthy cause, one doesn't need 1 million followers to help those in need - just buy the nets!

    So now he's the 'King of Twitter', and I would imagine that Oprah will soon be dubbed 'Queen of Twitter' and quite honestly - it sickens me. Twitter is - and should be - social. While not everyone uses Twitter exactly the same, celebrities pimping Twitter for their own media hype is wrong and goes against the very heart of what Twitter is and should be: social networking for everyone. It's not a popularity contest.

    I will not be following Ashton or Oprah. I want to follow the average 'Joe', the small business owner, the entrepreneur, the stay-at-home mom, those who I have something - anything in common with - who are willing to think of others more than themselves. Because this is Twitterville - and that's how we roll.
  • This is just another example of society likes to make gods out of celebrities and gloryify them. Im not hating on the man, but both him and twitter seems to be a "tweeny bit" overhyped. What has he done for us? Other than make us laugh.... absolutely nothing! lol

    Isn't twitter just a brief fad? From windows chat, to myspace, to facebook, and now to twitter... what's next???

    If it was a regular 9 to 5, or a school-going person, then nobody would have even cared. Definitely not Oprah and her cult followers! Thanks for sharing this!
blog comments powered by Disqus