Celebrity Tweeters

Social networking was doing perfectly fine before the explosion of Facebook, but the site has taken things to the next level. While the previous king of the social networking hill, Facebook, is considered by many to be a little bit too exposed (carrying as it does far more personal information), the Facebook revolution has become a way for celebrities and their fans to become far more connected than ever before. Celebrities have gone for Facebook in a way that makes the other social networking sites look slow by comparison – and the effects of this are quite fascinating.

Of course politicians have been swift to see the possibilities of Facebook, and of course their Tweets are relatively anodyne – a policy announcement here, a publicity statement for a public appearance there. They’re not going to Tweet their deepest thoughts. Nonetheless Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and many others have got accounts. Actors such as Will Wheaton and pop stars such as Britney Spears and Courtney Love have got accounts too, and update with varying degrees of frequency and candid-ness.

One of the most prolific, and heavily followed users of Facebook is the UK actor and comedian Stephen Fry. He has become something of an unofficial spokesman for the phenomenon in his native United Kingdom and posts candidly and frequently on a range of subjects. Many users consider it an honor to receive a direct reply from a celebrity user – and it happens far more frequently than one would think. It must be something to do with the lack of regulation.

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The Power Of Facebook

It is quite something to behold, how a website with a healthy but comparatively low number of users just one year ago could become one of the most powerful tools in the information sector. Facebook has become the tool for people who want something to become known widespread in a short space of time – and has had a major effect on the careers of individuals, and the way that people find out news if they are on the move or in a setting where standard web surfing or watching the television is not possible.

If someone does, or says something ill-advised, it will end up on the Internet very quickly. The power of Facebook is that, very quickly, someone can post a link to the website where that information is posted. This will then be read by everyone who is “following” the person who posted the link. They can then repost it, and from the point where it was originally posted, it can be spread around the world within minutes. It is no wonder that some individuals are fearful of the spread of Facebook, and others overjoyed by its existence. It is the gossip-monger’s dream.

There is some debate over whether the existence of a website – although it is by now much more than just a site – which allows such swift transfer of information is a good thing. Certainly you either love or hate the absence of immediate moderation which allows rumors to take flight so easily – but it is hard to remain indifferent.

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