News on the Twitter front; the party’s over. The social networking site without the obligatory birthday greetings and unnecessary relationship updates has attracted the attention of media mogul and promoter of ‘favorite things’, Oprah Winfrey. Twitter, in its short existence, has become a forum for a younger, tech-savvy user base; the Oprah onslaught will no doubt change the entire dynamic of social networking on the site. What used to be a venue for crazy shit you find online and website spam will become a continuous loop of ‘favorite things’ and self-help quotes. All things geek will continue to exist, but will share the same space as live twits on high-profile celebrity breakdowns.
There’s a lot of talk about Oprah’s entrance into the Twitter fold, from media sources; I was reminded of this news via Xbox’s Major Nelson twitter. I’m not yet fully entrenched in the Twitter phenomenon (follow me here), but our resident elder statesman, CB Robinson (follow him here) has fully embraced Twitter. I can only imagine his reaction to this news; a feral mutant combined with Lenny Bruce. Or something of the sort. But I am reluctant to welcome an demographic that includes mothers across the world, and self-help gurus (Oprah, expect many @ replies featuring some modification of ‘The Secret’). At current count, Oprah is at just over 50,000 followers on Twitter, and rising quickly. At this rate, Oprah will reach the one million followers that both Ashton Kutcher and CNN are currently vying for. With such a large influx of new users, Oprah’s arrival will change social networking on Twitter. I’m mostly concerned that Oprah joining Twitter will change the networking service from a genuinely revolutionary use of technology (see the release of new ‘The Streets’ tracks; Jon Favreau twittering the latest production updates for Iron Man 2) into a venue for self-promotion; with the hope that your book or assorted other item might get the attention of Oprah. Maybe Oprah could start her own social networking site; with all the promotion of scented soaps and New-Age literature she desires on the site. They could call it ‘Whitter’, and offer a free trial subscription to O magazine as an incentive to join.
Oprah’s Twitter (if you so desire to visit)
Chickenbone Robinson’s Twitter
I’m a huge Oprah fan and a Twitterer so I’m glad she joined. I found a site called OprahTwitter.com that tracks all of her tweets. Pretty cool!
Ha, you don’t want to fuck with Oprah, she’ll buy you and everything you own…
Oprah for PM.
Screw Twitter, I think it’s for lame-o’s (no offence Chickenbone and AllanB.) who have alot of time on their hands and think they’re so important that people should know every aspect of their lives… la-am-e.
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Side note, I’m surpirsed there was no “article” on the guy who hacked into Twitter, or was there and I just haven’t come across it yet…?
No offense taken woutbiaz, when you’re as important as me you have enough time on your hands to make sure everybody knows every aspect of your life.
In all fairness though, I don’t know if Twittering is any more lame-o than pointing out typos on some dude’s blog. No offense bro.