• On CBS MoneyWatch: 12 Tough Questions to Ask Your Parents
August 21, 2007 6:49 PM PDT

Twitter goes to the MTV Video Music Awards

by Caroline McCarthy
  • Font size
  • Print
  • 2 comments
(Credit: Twitter)

Could this finally be what breaks Twitter out of the early-adopter geek set and into the population at large? The microblogging service has partnered with the inarguably mainstream MTV for its upcoming Video Music Awards (or VMAs), according to an e-mail sent to Twitter members by founder Biz Stone.

So far, the partnership isn't totally clear. A Twitter account has been set up for the VMA "Moon Man" mascot, the pop-culture awards' equivalent of the Oscar statue. In Stone's e-mail, he elaborated that the VMA Twittering will expand, too: "(MTV has) some fun ideas which involve artists and celebrities including the MTV Moonman twittering from Las Vegas during the whole weekend leading up to the VMA broadcast on Sunday, September 9th," he wrote, adding that Twitter would also be featured on TV.

This is indeed prominent placement for the heavily hyped Twitter, which gained a rabid following among the social media junkie crowd at this spring's South by Southwest Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas. But as for breaking into the crowd that restricts its social networking use to Facebook, MySpace, and maybe Last.fm, Twitter hasn't been quite as successful. The MTV partnership could flop embarrassingly, or it could give the little site a big push.

Just think about it: maybe, the next time you go to the local mall, that teenage girl texting on her cell phone in Abercrombie & Fitch just might be Twittering about how she like, OMG totally loves those cute zip-up hoodies.

Originally posted at The Social
Caroline McCarthy, a CNET News staff writer, is a downtown Manhattanite happily addicted to social-media tools and restaurant blogs. Her pre-CNET resume includes interning at an IT security firm and brewing cappuccinos. E-mail Caroline.
Recent posts from Crave
Audio-Technica sets its sights on fashionable females
Digital City No. 58: Apple vs. Psystar; our fave laptop backpack; and New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Vizio's entry-level LCD not especially green, but still a good bargain
When BlackBerry developers play with robots
Microsoft opens app store to more phones
Mad Catz to offer cheaper muliplatform Wireless-N adapter for gaming
Toshiba LCD produces (slightly) deeper black levels
Android in the kitchen
Add a Comment (Log in or register)
by durham7 September 7, 2008 7:03 PM PDT
I was looking forward to watching the VMA awards tonight, and my evening was quickly ruined when the host, Richard Bland (or whatever his name is) proceded to give his political opinion!! All I can do to show my disgust of this is to change the channel. So thanks to Mr Bland for that! I also want to say that I am originally from England and have been an American citizen for years. If he wants to give his political opinion, tell him to get a green card or become a citizen. If not, tell him to keep his opinions to himself!
Reply to this comment
by _mdave September 11, 2008 1:53 PM PDT
I find it fascinating that they were ahead of the curve but the VMA twitter feed has pretty much been abandoned since the 2007. Just as Twitter is catching on they do nothing. MTV is pretty much done, a thing of the past just another corporate entity for sucking up as much money as possible. When will the advertisers get smart and move on.
Reply to this comment

About Crave

The name says it all. Crave is our blog about gorgeous gadgets and other crushworthy stuff. If you would like to contact Crave with a tip or comment, please write to: crave@cnet.com

Add this feed to your online news reader

Crave topics

A CNET Conversation with Eric Schmidt

CNET's Tom Krazit and Molly Wood sit down with Google CEO Eric Schmidt to discuss the future of Android, the Chrome OS, the problem of real-time search indexing, and more.

Verizon tests sending RIAA copyright notices

The No. 2 phone company, known for its reluctance to intervene in antipiracy cases, strikes an agreement to forward copyright notices on behalf of the music industry.