Twitter as a way for celebrities to communicate with fans: Implications for the study of parasocial interaction.

摘要: In the last two to three years, social media have proliferated on Internet. Web sites like MySpace, Facebook, and LiveJournal made it possible for people who had minimal Internet skills set up personal pages wherein they could share a daily posting of thoughts, philosophies ideals, photographs, web links other items interest with an audience. Celebrities also availed themselves media, but in each above cases, order give access audience members or fans, application often gave away undesirable level information. MySpace is good example this. On one's page are list friends their pages, potentially sensitive Some celebrities got around this problem by setting fan where only public information was included, such were mostly run assistants touch missing. late 2008, new website became prominent as alternative wanted chat fans without having Twitter that site, Tweeting has become popular, not celebrities, at large. While use far from universal, recent Pew study showed one five users now using either similar status updating program (Forrestal, 2011; Fox et al. 2009). Forrestal suggested starting place conversation opportunity carry levels outside service. Clearly great potential all kinds communication. Hargittai & Litt (2011) found entertainment news general significant predictor population young adults sampled study. What unique about celebrity point view? Most importantly, can send messages needing grant site. The reply kind, again join fan's forming any kind formal connection fan. If inappropriate, "block" A read "Tweets" he she chooses, don't know if being unless replies. So, (2011, p. 825) observed, "Users follow another's content reciprocal obligation," especially important when celebrity. era problems both stalkers inappropriate always (Dietz al, 1991; Ferris, 2001; Maltby al., 2006), offers safe forum interaction fans. home users' basic information, number following, another following them. main part "Tweets," user posted. This true users, whether celebrities. For private message, it, be sent someone you. Previous research shown accounts largest accounts. Actors Ashton Kutcher Oprah Winfrey, politicians Al Gore most likely candidates large followings (Kwak 2010; Marwick, 2010). Academic (i.e. Ebsco Host) searches "Twitter" yield books how market conduct business Twitter, e.g. "How will Change Way We Live" (Johnson, 2009) articles help students enhance presence online (Dunlap Lowenthal, Research used limited thus far, much contained conference presentations (boyd …