As mentioned in my last blog, Twitter is used by celebrities in order to communicate with their fans and followers. While this is a highly convenient and efficient mode of communication, there is a down fall to it. With any website that has a social component to it, be it Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, etc. some individuals use it as a way to create imposter accounts and try to recruit people to friending or following them. They often interact with their fans and spread false information to increase their status. They also often point out other accounts as being fake, while theirs is supposedly the “official” page.
These users that pose as celebrities can have a serious impact on how these individuals are actually viewed. One of the most prominent examples for me right now would be individuals from the Twilight cast. I’m sure you’ve all seem the gossip magazine covers professing the secret love between co-stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart while in line at the grocery store. They’re in love, they’re engaged, and just this last week I saw a cover about a wedding of the year. This fodder is often used by imposter accounts to garner followers.
After a quick search, there are over 60 fake Pattinson accounts. The number is astronomical, and it continues to grow- this is the case for any popular celebrity. And even the more obscure celebrities have imposters; no one in the public eye is immune.
Despite this occurrence, Twitter is making strides to defend their website and protect their users by using a verification program. Individuals in the public eye such as celebrities now have the opportunity to verify their account. It provides a way to distinguish between real users and the endless list of imposters. Not only does this protect the famous individual, but it provides a way for the everyday user to distinguish between the real individual and everyone else. The program is still in beta, however many celebrities are taking advantage of this option as a way to prove to their fans who they really are in order to avoid confusion and have the ability to put an end to the endless rumor mill that imposter Twitter accounts continue to run.
Week One: Spending Time with John Keller
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3 Responses to “Celebrity and Imposter Tweeting”
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Hi Amber, I'v never used twitter before, just know it from the internet. I feel it is similar to the facebook from your post, and what the key differents are between them?
Amber,
This is a very nice story to share. It is also related to Internet credibility, an issue we Internet users have to deal with whenever we are online. For any new Internet technology, the beginning stage can be a "wild west" where anything can happen, and gradually, there are more and more regulations. This seems to be a such case.
This post is both amusing and sad. I'm amazed that people think it's okay to fool around with other people's reputations, even if these people are celebrities.
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