U.S. Army declares war on Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher greets the 2nd Security Forces Squadron Airmen at Barksdale AFB, La., on the set of "The Guardian" in January 2006. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kendra Fulton)
All’s fair in love and war. But what about tweet and war?
A story in today’s New York Daily News publicized the U.S. Army’s new challenge to itself to be all that it can be – on the popular microsharing site Twitter. Now, the Army wants you…and 999,999 of your friends to give it over a million followers.
Actor, activist, and now tech and social networking guru Ashton Kutcher made headlines this week when he beat news network CNN to be the first account followed by a million people. In a victory lap of sorts, Kutcher later appeared on Oprah and Larry King to discuss social networking.
Public Affairs specialist for the Army Lindy Kyzer threw down the challenge recently. She is in charge of the Army’s presence on Twitter, Facebook, and other social networking sites. She says: “If Ashton Kutcher can do it, then we can do it.”
Strictly speaking, Twitter is about conversation and not a numbers game. Nevertheless, the attention Kutcher – an avid Twitter user who uses it to circumvent his own paparazzi – has gotten could greatly benefit the Army as it struggles to meet recruiting goals, fight two wars, and deliver positive messaging about America to people around the world.
It’s a stunt, to be sure. But better a stunt that can help the United States than a vapid one devoid of anything but a self-serving goal. So I say – Go Army. Beat Kutcher.
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Yes…but what will the Army Tweet?
“5:55am. Perparing for reveille. Sgt. Major has foul breath.”
“Damn. Forgot to shine my parade boots. Gonne get ****canned for this.”
“New major overseas offensive! Check it out. http://tinyurl/k1cka55“
Mark, that’s the story. Linda is but what person, and she’s got to use @USArmy for more than a simple Twitfeed. Remember, she’s a PR flack, and I use that term in the truest sense of the word, not in a derogatory manner.
If Linda, as the PERSON behind the ORGANIZATION @USArmy, can have genuine conversations with the followers, then US Army will gain serious street cred.
But if it continues to be the house organ, simply with sanitized PR info, then US Army will lose legitimacy in the Web 2.0 world.
James, I think that if you look at military tweets, they are far more interesting and deep than that. Check it out.
Stephen, I think you’re right, and I’m pretty sure that military public affairs folks are moving to use social media to do just that – have conversations. In fact the whole government is: http://is.gd/tyle
In response to another comment. See in context »Maybe the army can use some interrogation techniques to find out WHY Ashton Kutcher is the new face of Twitter. Granted, he uses Twitter, and gets it…but what compelled him to become the twister (twitter + poster) boy? Seems logical that it’s part of Twitter’s new celeb marketing campaign. Remember Twitter’s recent job ad iso a celeb handler? So,is Ashton Kutcher putting himself out there for the greater good, or for some material good?