Huffington Magazine Issue 3-4 | Page 33

Voices Norton are two great examples; with over four million followers between them, people who follow them because they admire their acting or think they’re handsome guys get to learn about some pretty amazing causes. Having someone else “talk” to your fans can also backfire when it’s readily apparent it’s not actually coming from you. Tom Cruise’s Twitter account reminds me of when my Aunt Barbara posted her very detailed bout with menopause on her Facebook wall; yes, Barbara, everyone can read that — not just your sisters. (Strange how it got 247 “Likes.”) In any case, Team Tom, it’s clear that you have simply replaced your red-carpet publicist with an online one — so step away from the computer and let the kids play with this new Internet thing. Perhaps it’s best for some to take a page out of Mr. Cruise’s ex-wife’s book: Nicole Kidman chooses not to tweet at all. Right now, it seems like musicians have figured it out more than actors. Granted, they tour all over the world, meet people in huge arenas, and create music that invokes an intensely personal reaction in people, so they might have a few advantages over their RICK SCHWARTZ HUFFINGTON 07.01-08.12 thespian brethren. Perhaps this accounts for the fact that, as of this writing, out of the ten people most followed on Twitter, eight are singers. (The other two are named Obama and Kardashian — insert your own joke here.) In fact, Katy Perry just might be the winner of the Best Use of Social Media award. Her content captures her personality beautifully — her tweets are funny, off-center, often We’ll heartfelt and totally never know adorable. It’s one of what Grace the many reasons why Kelly would her legion of fans feels have done such a tight connecwith 140 tion to her — she cares characters.” just as much and loves them right back. So we’ll never know what Grace Kelly would have done with 140 characters or less, or what Marlon Brando might have posted on Facebook. Perhaps James Dean’s Instagram account would have been revelatory or a clue about Steve McQueen’s famous mystique would have lurked in his WhoSay photos. Or maybe, just maybe, the good old days were indeed good enough.