Twitter recently became a publicly traded company and in response, Artist Kyle McDonald decided to make a public Twitter account that automatically tweets direct messages sent to his account.
Twitter also recently came out with a new feature that allows users to "receive direct messages from any follower." To take advantage of this, McDonald created a bit of code that will allow anyone who follows him to "become him" by sending a direct message starting with "~" or, a tilde character. These messages will be automatically tweeted as Twitter user "kcimc."
McDonald's Twitter experiment is meant to examine how Twitter shapes identity online and how this changes when there are multiple voices on that one channel.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Collaborative Social Media Accounts
- Artists and influencers are experimenting with allowing followers to take over their public social media accounts as a way to examine how multiple voices shape identity online and bring a new level of engagement.
- Direct Message Automation
- Automation of direct messages on social media platforms, like Twitter, can allow for new ways of engaging with followers and creating unique content.
- Multifaceted Social Media Identities
- As social media platforms evolve, users are exploring how their online identities can incorporate different voices and perspectives to create more nuanced and authentic representations of themselves.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Social Media Management
- Social media management platforms can incorporate new capabilities for automation and collaborative accounts, allowing for greater creativity and engagement for brands and individuals.
- Art and Entertainment
- Artists and entertainers can use collaborative social media accounts as a way to break down barriers between themselves and their audience, creating new opportunities for engagement and brand building.
- Marketing and Advertising
- The creative use of collaborative social media accounts and automation features can provide new ways of reaching and resonating with audiences, creating exciting marketing opportunities for brands and advertisers.
