Dissing Twitter – The New PR Stunt?
Recording star Miley Cyrus, who had a couple million followers on Twitter, decided she’d had enough of the 140 character updates that kept her fans, friends and paparazzi updated on her comings and goings, and completely shut down her account this week.
She didn’t go quietly, creating a decently produced rap video explaining her decision. The gossip sites weren’t the only ones making this breaking news – even the social media hounds at Mashable reported on the diss, creating lots of media buzz for the young songstress. Even her dad, country music star Billy Ray Cyrus hoped (publicly) that she would change her mind. While Ashton Kutcher drove tons of press for his Twitter antics, Miley got an equally passionate reception for her break-up with Twitter.
Miley isn’t the first person to make waves with a change in Twitter strategy. Web celebrity and renowned tech blogger Robert Scoble unfollowed thousands of followers and also received significant press coverage from the event.
So is a drastic Twitter overhaul the newest PR 2.0 stunt? Do the long term benefits outweigh the short term attention?
Rachel Kay
Absolutely a publicity stunt. Celebrities need/want people talking about them. What better way then saying you’re leaving Twitter. It got her some buzz, but in a week no one will be talking about it. What’s the ROI on that?
Here’s a question: why are people doing this with Twitter? Notice that she didn’t leave Facebook. What does this say about Twitter and what does it say about Facebook?
In the end, I don’t think this has any value or impact for her. It won’t sell more records, it won’t sell more concert tickets. It’ll get her some press coverage, but it’ll die down quickly. 1 celebrity off Twitter, hundreds still on – no biggie.
I thought Scoble was on to something when he followed the antics of dozens before him, including yours truly. But when he’s now following 10,000 peeps, you’re telling me that wasn’t a publicity stunt?