iNet Web Blog

There’s been a lot of opinions, articles, blog, MySpace, FaceBook, Twitter and any other media on Ashton Kutcher’s [@aplusk] Twitter challenge to CNN. What started off as a bit of fun & frivolity soon became a bone of contention for many so-called “serious” Twitterites.

So what happened that made having fun on social networks and microblogs such a crime?

I sat back and had a laugh every time I saw something about it. It’s not like Ashton wasn’t a serious twitter’er before hand. The man incessantly tweets about all kinds of things, just like many other people we know. That he has become so popular really is a testimony to the value of his entity and interaction. In my opinion he has added value to the Twitter universe. He’s added family [@mrskutcher], added photos, added videos, taken the Twitterverse to the Academy Awards after party, has introduced us to all manner of celebrities and humanized them.

If I found I was 1,2 with CNN I would challenge them to a race too. So would many of you. I’d drum up support as much as I could. What’s the harm in it? How many more people started using Twitter during this week? I’m sure I read somewhere that it was millions. OK, so now we have millions of more people to network with, meet, become friends with. Yes, I can see this is a crime.

I’m wondering who the snobs are here. Are these knockers really protecting Twitter? Or because it’s not their idea of fun, it can’t be anyone elses?

For the past couple of years there has been someone else who has achieved a similar type of popularity. WWE’s Matt Hardy [wrestling] held the title of most popular blogger on MySpace for a while. He invited fans into his life, many who became good friends of the Hardy family. Yes he increased & secured his ongoing popularity for a while, but he and his brother Jeff Hardy also inspired many people.

There are many celebrities out there that are being just like you and me. They may not follow all their followers back, but let’s be serious here, do they want their DM’s exploding with messages? They contribute. They share. They are part of which ever community it is that they participate in.

Obama was meant to be a dam marvel when he ran his social network campaign. Yet word of Oprah [@Oprah] starting to Twitter has also bred contempt. This week Evan Williams [@ev - Twitter's father] will be involved in a new segment Oprah is starting on her show dedicated to Twitter, and we all know how popular Oprah is [love her or hate her-it's a fact]. While I’m not an Oprah’ite, I do appreciate her pull power.

So where do we stand? I’m a web designer using Twitter to network within my profession & for potential clients. More people join Twitter, more knowledge shared & increase my skills. More people join Twitter, the possibility of more of them that may require websites. More celebrities join Twitter, the more they understand the value of a web presence.

Yes, I can see how I would hate something like this to happen.

Go for it Ashton & go for it Oprah!