Simon Cowell's "X Factor" has turned to Twitter to get feedback. Instead of casting your vote via phone or text one can tweet their vote and include feedback about the show. Cowell reads these tweets himself (or has someone else read and report on them) and says, "it's like having millions of producers working for you." But is Cowell's new found interest in the public for real or is it just another ploy by corporations to make money?
The chief executive of Twitter, Dick Costolo says "benefits will accrue to us" from this new relationship with TV. While Costolo refused to comment on whether or not Twitter will make an actual profit from the joint venture, it certainly seems like they will. Author Brian Stelter remarks on the venture:
"the proliferation of Twitter logos and language on news and talk shows and now “The X Factor” is not an accident; it is the product of a strategy that started nearly three years ago with the hiring of Chloe Sladden, a former vice president at Current TV, who put Twitter messages on screen during the 2008 presidential election."
While, a venture between television and the internet seems beneficial for both the viewer and the corporation it could also be harmful. Yes, it is exciting to be able to communicate with your favorite TV shows via twitter and vice versa but the merging of these two markets also creates a monopoly. Now, not only are the things shown on TV censored by the corporations that own them - think about GE's ownership of NBC - but twitter is jumping on board as well. Can we still trust the messages being displayed on twitter or are they just another another ploy by major corporations to influence the masses?
While "The X Factor" is attempting to be technologically savvy and attract a broader audience through participation this unification could lead to something else down the road. For now, it seems safe to express ones opinion about a TV show or network via twitter, but users must remain aware that the information they receive in return might not be the truth.
Twitter is actually something that I was adamantly opposed to for such a long time until I finally gave it a chance, and now I’m obsessed. The idea that people can make their thoughts known to the producers or stars of a show just by tweeting at them is a pretty cool concept. I love that Simon Cowell actually (or maybe not, who knows) reads the tweets and takes the comments into consideration. This definitely closes the gap between the two parties. This just solidifies how awesome Twitter can be!
ReplyDeleteAt first I didnt understand the "twitter-thing" but I started using it when I couldn't use facebook in the beginning of the semester and I love the accessibility; you can post a picture directly from your phone to twitter, show an article you like on your twitter to your viewers, and much more! I even got a job offer over twitter, my past internship, from a company that I was "following". The extent and the importance of twitter is just going to spread!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! I think it was a smart idea for twitter to pair up wit TV shows. What great about twitter is that with the hash tags people can see what's trending and are able to read comments and opinions from others. TV shows are only successful when they have a following and with being able to tweet in opinions, they are making it seem like they actually care about the viewers thoughts and doing so in an interactive way. When people think they play a role in these shows, they are more likely to continue watching.
ReplyDeletetwitter has become a big obsesssion of mine, and for a good reason: it makes communication and sharing opinions so much EASIER and makes celebrities and groups that normally would be difficult to reach out to (politicians, tv, etc) way more accessible to ordinary people. And while I understand ur sentiment about Twitter just being another way to influence the masses, I think it is maybe just a bit cynical...I think these shows honestly just want to reach out to their viewers and Twitter has made that just a little more available.
ReplyDeletegreaat post, very thought-provoking!