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John Mayer, one of Twitter's most high profile users, with 3.7 million followers, is one of the latest celebrities to quit the micro-blogging site.
Some stars are finding that Twitter may be great as a promotional tool or for reaching out to fans, but it also comes with a downside.
Teen singer Miley Cyrus deleted her account a year ago, persuaded into silence by her new boyfriend, Liam Hemsworth.
"Hairspray" star Amanda Bynes deleted her Twitter account last week without any notice to her fans. Earlier this month, Disney starlet Demi Lovato, 18, tweeted that she's saying "goodbye to twitter" because "the access that the other people have is uncomfortable to me."
"The blessing of tweeting for celebrities was this idea that you could bypass sending out a press release and go directly to those who are following you," said Robert Thompson, a professor of Television and Popular Culture.
However, many celebs are having their tweets used against them.
Although Bynes, 24, offered no explanation for quitting Twitter, she seems to have had a volatile relationship with the so-called "Twitterverse." The actress got flack for announcing on Twitter that she was retiring from acting earlier this year, and then subsequently "un-retiring" a month later.
Familiarity breeds contempt
"Many celebrities are realising the old saying that familiarity breeds contempt," said Thompson. "We used to think that celebrities were distant people we could never communicate with. Twitter reversed that and some celebrities are growing tired of it."
Just ask country singer LeAnn Rimes, who was an active Twitter user when her marriage ended after she cheated on her husband with married actor, Eddie Cibrian.
After Rimes and Cibrian divorced their spouses, the duo was photographed kissing each other, which sparked outrage. The singer was attacked on Twitter and was not allowed to defend herself.
Rimes closed her account in July 2010, tweeting that it was "unhealthy for me and my family to have to read negative comments." However, a week later she was back on Twitter, saying she wanted to let her fans know "how much u r appreciated."
Paul Levinson, author of "New New Media," says Twitter has now reached a sort of "shaking out point."
"For some it will continue to be one of the best things they could do. For others, it has become an imposition, a pain," Levinson said.
What's the point?
So is this the beginning of a mass Twitter exodus? Not so, said Bonnie Fuller, president and editor-in-chief of celebrity website HollywoodLife.com.
"For every celebrity that quits Twitter, there's 10 who sign up," Fuller said. "There are just too many of them benefiting from Twitter. Celebrities see it as a great opportunity to communicate with fans."
Fuller cited reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who uses Twitter to successfully promote herself, the products she promotes and her sisters.
As for Mayer, his spokesperson said he had closed his Twitter account because his concert tour has ended and is preparing to go back into studio.
In a September 12 post, on his new favourite blogging site, Tumblr, Mayer thanked fans for making his recent tour a success and signed off by saying that it was "time to (try to) disappear for a while."
Do you think celebs will EVER stop using Twitter?
Some stars are finding that Twitter may be great as a promotional tool or for reaching out to fans, but it also comes with a downside.
Teen singer Miley Cyrus deleted her account a year ago, persuaded into silence by her new boyfriend, Liam Hemsworth.
"Hairspray" star Amanda Bynes deleted her Twitter account last week without any notice to her fans. Earlier this month, Disney starlet Demi Lovato, 18, tweeted that she's saying "goodbye to twitter" because "the access that the other people have is uncomfortable to me."
"The blessing of tweeting for celebrities was this idea that you could bypass sending out a press release and go directly to those who are following you," said Robert Thompson, a professor of Television and Popular Culture.
However, many celebs are having their tweets used against them.
Although Bynes, 24, offered no explanation for quitting Twitter, she seems to have had a volatile relationship with the so-called "Twitterverse." The actress got flack for announcing on Twitter that she was retiring from acting earlier this year, and then subsequently "un-retiring" a month later.
Familiarity breeds contempt
"Many celebrities are realising the old saying that familiarity breeds contempt," said Thompson. "We used to think that celebrities were distant people we could never communicate with. Twitter reversed that and some celebrities are growing tired of it."
Just ask country singer LeAnn Rimes, who was an active Twitter user when her marriage ended after she cheated on her husband with married actor, Eddie Cibrian.
After Rimes and Cibrian divorced their spouses, the duo was photographed kissing each other, which sparked outrage. The singer was attacked on Twitter and was not allowed to defend herself.
Rimes closed her account in July 2010, tweeting that it was "unhealthy for me and my family to have to read negative comments." However, a week later she was back on Twitter, saying she wanted to let her fans know "how much u r appreciated."
Paul Levinson, author of "New New Media," says Twitter has now reached a sort of "shaking out point."
"For some it will continue to be one of the best things they could do. For others, it has become an imposition, a pain," Levinson said.
What's the point?
So is this the beginning of a mass Twitter exodus? Not so, said Bonnie Fuller, president and editor-in-chief of celebrity website HollywoodLife.com.
"For every celebrity that quits Twitter, there's 10 who sign up," Fuller said. "There are just too many of them benefiting from Twitter. Celebrities see it as a great opportunity to communicate with fans."
Fuller cited reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who uses Twitter to successfully promote herself, the products she promotes and her sisters.
As for Mayer, his spokesperson said he had closed his Twitter account because his concert tour has ended and is preparing to go back into studio.
In a September 12 post, on his new favourite blogging site, Tumblr, Mayer thanked fans for making his recent tour a success and signed off by saying that it was "time to (try to) disappear for a while."
Do you think celebs will EVER stop using Twitter?
