Comments for Oprah to Twitter: I'm just not that into you

Oprah to Twitter: I'm just not that into you

2009-07-02T20:14:13Z

Oprah sends her first tweet with Twitter co-founder Evan Williams, left

How'd you like to gain 450,000 followers in 26 days without sending a single tweet? I have the secret for you.

Be Oprah.

She had 1,336,827 followers when she sent her last tweet on June 6. Today she has 1,801,684 (and counting). That's the power of Chicago's top Twitter user.

No one else can do that. Oprah is one of the top 5 accounts on Twitter. The others -- Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk), Ellen Degeneres (@theellenshow), Britney Spears (@britneyspears) and CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) -- are known to tweet at least every few days, sometimes several times a day. Other power users do the same.

Never mind major companies, she's a brand in herself. Every minute or so, people are tweeting about Oprah. Every few minutes, she gets an @ reply.

But she doesn't have to interact, she doesn't have to follow back (she follows 14 people), she doesn't have to do anything. She's the exception to every Twitter rule in the book. Naturally, she can break those rules because of who she is.

She's sent a total of 51 tweets since she talked about Twitter with co-founder Evan Williams on April 17. She sent five tweets in June - that's right, 5.

Just three days after that show, the "Oprah effect" was clear. TechCrunch said she helped Twitter recruit between 500,000 and 1.5 million new users.

Her last tweet on June 6: "Today went to see Phylicia Rashad in AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY. It too was outstanding. Makes me crave BROADWAY!!"

Many local Twitterers said today they're disappointed by the lack of tweets.

schmogel Oprah fails. Missing an opportunity with 2 million followers and zero tweets. At least 50% are probably real people. 02 Jul 2009 from txt

Sweetter @redeyechicago Only recourse is to unfollow her right? 02 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to redeyechicago

jarends interesting... RT @redeyechicago Just who in the world does she think she is using Twitter like that? Oh. Of course. Oprah http://ow.ly/goRC 02 Jul 2009 from web

cuki_doh Oprah sent only 5 tweets in June but still manages to have the top Twitter account in Chicago. RT RedEyeChicago:http://ow.ly/goRC 02 Jul 2009 from web

mihoriel @redeyechicago Although I am a fan of Oprah -just the show & book series-, she doesn't really tweet so there is no point in following her. 02 Jul 2009 from web in reply to redeyechicago

When will she tweet next? Twitterers anxiously await to see what July has in store for @oprah.

Comment from Alicia Eler on 2009-07-02

2009-07-02T23:26:18Z

Wow, I dont know any celebs who do this! Most just don't follow back, but to not tweet at all?!

Comment from Mark Aaron Murnahan on 2009-07-02

2009-07-02T23:42:57Z

I think it is quite an amazing instance of celebrity. I believe that perhaps Ashton Kutcher was right when he suggested that she reach me for some help (Ref: http://twitter.com/aplusk/status/1563748698). Maybe she will read my upcoming book. ;-)

Most people who complain about how somebody uses Twitter are jealous for one reason or another. My suspicion is that Oprah has a lot going on to keep her busy.

Comment from Craig Kanalley on 2009-07-02

2009-07-03T01:15:58Z

Isn't it astounding, Alicia? But then again, Oprah's Oprah.

Comment from Craig Kanalley on 2009-07-02

2009-07-03T01:16:59Z

Mark, Ashton was on to something... You may be on to something with the jealousy part, that makes sense, but at the same time - can't she have a staffer do this for her? At least reply to her fans? Kind of mind-boggling.

Comment from Shari Weiss on 2009-07-02

2009-07-03T04:05:30Z

I wish some celeb, maybe Kutcher, would call her out on it. Would make things a lot more interesting. And maybe put her in her place.

Comment from Craig Kanalley on 2009-07-02

2009-07-03T04:15:37Z

Shari, this was close to that - http://twitter.com/aplusk/status/1563748698. But yeah, totally should. I agree.

Comment from qroper on 2009-07-03

2009-07-03T15:39:21Z

Oprah is lame. If you watch the episode you could tell how turned off she was by the whole idea of twitter. I'm starting to think she is running out talkshow topics and is near retirement. I'm not sure if I can take anymore Dr. Oz specials or remakes of things I see on 20/20...

Comment from Alicia Eler on 2009-07-03

2009-07-03T17:48:33Z

You're right, Oprah's Oprah. I guess she can do what ever she wants. I'm also interested in the phenomenon of celebrities not following people back, kind of like this local celeb Karyn Calabrese who runs Karyn's Raw Restaurant and Karyn's Cooked. She's a star in the raw food world, a movement that believes you get the most nutritional value out of non-cooked, non-processed food. Check out her Twitter page: http://twitter.com/karynsenlight
Personally I don't think she's a big enough local celeb to not follow people back. What's your take on this?

Comment from Craig Kanalley on 2009-07-03

2009-07-03T21:09:13Z

Yeah, I remember the show and it's too bad she didn't spend more time on it; it was only a segment. She didn't see overly enthused about Twitter.

Comment from Craig Kanalley on 2009-07-03

2009-07-03T21:11:15Z

Yeah, Alicia, I agree with you - not big enough to not follow people back. My view is that part of Twitter is following back and allowing for a real sense of connectivity/interaction. For instance, private messages can only be sent when someone is following you back.

I guess the huge celebs can just use Twitter as a way to post updates, not follow back, and that's fine. But someone like Karyn Calabrese, yeah, she should be following back IMO.