Ashton Kutcher @aplusk will go down in Internet history as the first individual to attract 1 million followers on Twitter. It is another milestone in the democratization of media. One person can be heard and make a difference, as much as any TV network, newspaper or magazine. No more media gatekeepers for for social thought. The Internet made it all possible. Tools like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, TypePad, Qik, and others, make it possible for anyone to have a voice…and be heard by millions.
Barak Obama was the first presidential candidate to use Twitter and other social media tools to rally supporters and raise money during the campaign. The first Internet president.
Ashton Kutcher says Twitter allows him to communicate directly, unfiltered, and get ideas and feedback from people around the world. Contrast this to the carefully managed PR spin from publicists, or the sensationalism from entertainment shows and magazines. Social media allows anyone to have a direct connection to people they care about. But, more importantly, social media helps people rally around a social cause, direct attention to problems that must be solved, and motivate millions of people to take action.
The race to 1 Million followers on Twitter is a fun side show, but the democratization of media is a very important Internet milestone. You can follow Ashton Kutcher on Twitter at @aplusk and Demi Moore at @mrskutcher.
Subscribe - To get an automatic feed of all future posts subscribe here, or to receive them via email go here and enter your email address in the box in the right column. You can also follow me on Twitter @dondodge
