Ashton Kutcher Uses Twitter to Punk the Media

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009 by Andy Beal

Ashton Kutcher Uses Twitter to Punk the Media

Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk) is threatening to quit Twitter over (not so true) rumors the micro-blogging service had signed a TV deal. His exact Tweet:

Now, I have to admit, this is either brilliant or naive.

Brilliant, if Kutcher is punking the media with such a claim. After all, the guy is known for messing with people’s heads. It’s quite possible that the guy–who can’t live without the spotlight–is simply acting upset, in order to get even more attention than he received from his Oprah appearance. Heck, CNN fell for it.

On the flip side, if Kutcher is sincere with his tweet, then it shows a staggering amount of naivety–and should be a wake-up call for all of us.

He follows-up his first Tweet with:

OK, let’s set aside the fact that the guy is a TV and movie star, and signed over his private life when he married the even more famous, Demi Moore. Let’s assume Kutcher is just an average guy. Adding every detail of your life to Twitter is the equivalent of providing your daily calendar to anyone that has stalker tendencies. You don’t have to worry about a TV show–anyone that uses Twitter is already providing fodder to stalkers, blackmailers, and plain old weirdoes.

So, you can take your pick of today’s moral of the story.

A. Kutcher has shown us all how to use Twitter to gain attention and get mentioned in mainstream media.

B. Kutcher’s apparent naivety is likely shared by many of us and we can thank him for this wake-up call. Just because social media lets you share the sordid details of your life, doesn’t mean you should.

So, what do you think? Is Kutcher sincere or sarcastic?

PS. Non-stalkers and celebrities are welcome to follow me on Twitter. I won’t be taking a hiatus anytime soon.

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6 comments on “Ashton Kutcher Uses Twitter to Punk the Media”

jesseluna Says:

May 27th, 2009 at 9:38 am

I'd say you left off “C”- Ashton really doesn't want to be stalked. I've had a couple of friends who have been stalked and there's nothing entertaining about it. In fact it's scary as heck.

One reason celebs reveal so much on Twitter is to bring in their fans but it's also to give paparazzi and would be stalkers an opportunity to diffuse their lust for bits of information. It's tough to post a picture of Ashton walking down the street when the TwitPic has already been seen by a million folks on Twitter.

That said, if there is any kind of celebrity gaming, it's difficult to imagine it happening without the cooperation of celebs. ~@jesseluna
Andy Beal Says:

May 27th, 2009 at 9:56 am

Paparazzi perhaps, but I'm not so sure about stalkers. I would have thought that the more details you share, the more a stalker feels like they know you (and, twistedly, you know them).

Stalking is nasty, but you're fueling the desire with each tweet, not lessening it. IMHO.
Terry Howard Says:

May 27th, 2009 at 12:48 pm

Who is Ashton Kutcher? He bares a resemblance to that guy who used to do some kind of work on a television show (what was That Show?) and a movie or two.
Ashton Kutcher Uses Twitter to Punk the Media | 小魚兒的網路行銷 Says:

May 27th, 2009 at 2:01 pm

[...] from: Ashton Kutcher Uses Twitter to Punk the Media [...]
Andy Beal Says:

May 27th, 2009 at 1:31 pm

LOL – yeah, he needs to promote himself a bit more!
gantrants Says:

May 28th, 2009 at 11:17 am

he just did it for the press. but those rumors have been picking up steam there is even talk of other twitter products : http://www.newsy.com/videos/twee_vee_twitter_ge...

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