Ashton Kutcher’s Threat To Leave The Media

Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk) is threatening to quit Twitter over (not so true) rumors the micro-blogging service had signed a TV deal. His exact Tweet:

Now, I have to admit, this is either brilliant or naive.

Brilliant, if Kutcher is punking the media with such a claim. After all, the guy is known for messing with people’s heads. It’s quite possible that the guy–who can’t live without the spotlight–is simply acting upset, in order to get even more attention than he received from his Oprah appearance. Heck, CNN fell for it.

On the flip side, if Kutcher is sincere with his tweet, then it shows a staggering amount of naivety–and should be a wake-up call for all of us.

He follows-up his first Tweet with:

OK, let’s set aside the fact that the guy is a TV and movie star, and signed over his private life when he married the even more famous, Demi Moore. Let’s assume Kutcher is just an average guy. Adding every detail of your life to Twitter is the equivalent of providing your daily calendar to anyone that has stalker tendencies. You don’t have to worry about a TV show–anyone that uses Twitter is already providing fodder to stalkers, blackmailers, and plain old weirdoes.

So, you can take your pick of today’s moral of the story.

A. Kutcher has shown us all how to use Twitter to gain attention and get mentioned in mainstream media.

B. Kutcher’s apparent naivety is likely shared by many of us and we can thank him for this wake-up call. Just because social media lets you share the sordid details of your life, doesn’t mean you should.

So, what do you think? Is Kutcher sincere or sarcastic?

PS. Non-stalkers and celebrities are welcome to follow me on Twitter. I won’t be taking a hiatus anytime soon.