James Franco: 'Social Media Is Dead'

By Tracey Harrington McCoy Posted Apr 4th 2011 06:55PM

After trying Twitter for a couple months, James Franco declared: social media is dead. While attending a creative writing nonprofit benefit last week, the actor-writer-student told Policito he doesn't see a future for the Twitters and Facebooks of the world.

"Social media is over. Still up there. Going down. You heard it here first," Franco said. And although his Twitter account is still active, he's made it private and plans to scale back his usage after catching some flack for his updates. "My thought was 'this is my Twitter. I can do whatever I want.' But certain companies I work with contacted me about what I was saying."

Franco created a ton of buzz two months ago when he joined Twitter to help generate excitement about the Oscars which he live Tweeted while co-hosting with Anne Hathaway. He currently has almost half a million followers.

But panning Twitter wasn't the only thing Franco did at the creative writing benefit. The '127 Hours' actor also gave students advice about how to break into the writing field.

"If you want to write, make the time. We all have an hour or two a day that can be used for surfing Facebook or writing. No one is going to beg any new writer to write," he said.

Tags: James Franco

Comments

(18)

Monday 04 April

By Blonde Ambition

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I wish there were more like him who want to encourage others to write better things than the texts they bounce to their friends. However, it might be hard for others more to take him seriously - Twitter & Facebook are unfortunately far from over & it's still going to take time for people to forget the fiasco of this year's Oscars.

By kathy

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Glad he is encouraging writing because he certainly cannot act and he certainly does not have the pizazz(or personality) to host any sort of event!

By YoYo

I agree with Franco. I said the same to friends and family a year ago. They said I was crazy. Today, these same twitter and facebook fans are rarely on these sites.

By fiona

Twitter is for teeny boppers, Facebook is for people who devalue their privacy and feel their life is of interest to anyone and everyone. Would be nice if Franco's prediction was not far off.

Tuesday 05 April

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It's not only kids that are on Twitter - even Liz Taylor used it in the last years of her life. I have to use it every so often to keep up with certain favorite musicians of mine who seem to be ignored by the rest of the media for not being "smart" or being "boring". I happily believe, though, that Twitter really jumped the shark when Sarah Palin used it for so much more attention whoring.

By gstodolka

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Look, I'm 55 years old and am both disgusted and fascinated by social media. However, It appears Franco chose to use it to his advantage. When it became, obviously, too intrusive he backed off. Don't blame him for backing off, but James, you lit the fire and sometimes you may get burned. P.S. "You always sound stoned, whether you are or not".

By justin sayin

If Franco is pronouncing social-media dead and his public image is dead we must be in a state of mourning .

By Gregory

Couldn't agree with you more James!

By Carol L. Ziegler

Of course, social media is not dead but those of us who have real lives and real friends and real work know that it can be an enormous waste of time. People will use it but with more wisely.

By cowof otis

Wow James - will u b just going by 'James' after this declaration? And subsequently turning your name into a symbol?

By Daniel

He is right social networking never really existed people talking about nothing the american population has 1.2% brain cells and think that is relivent concerning creativity . there is no imagination in people today -none- no expansion of genuine Ideas just toilet talk !

By ljsurf322

Actually, Twitter and Facebook have been integrated into, and used heavily, marketing and advertising from major businesses, brands and individuals. Lots of businesses hire on the basis of how well you've established your internet presence if it's a job in that field too. I'd say he's forgotten this part, although I agree many may be growing tired of them for strictly social use. Both will be around for a looong time.

By shirleyA

This James Franco is a media created celebrity
Frankenstein. If a celebrity is a media favorite
they can't get enough of reporting on them, if the media
dislikes a troubled celebrity they can't get enough of
reporting on them.

By Lissy

I agree with you James.

By Dwayne

I thought the very smart & hot Franco was more informed than his statements show. Recently, without social media such as twitter & facebook (and groups like Anonymous)...the revolutions would have faltered and/or many more lives would have been lost.

By James Bone

I recently joined facebook so I could keep up with my nephew's travels around New Zealand, Australia and southeast Asia; and, from what I can tell, that's about all it's good for. I also recently read that 79% of all twits - I mean tweets - are ignored. Shouldn't it be twitting and twits if you're on twitter. I mean, it's not Tweeter - is it?

By mickey

OOOOOh Franco! So hip, so in tune. The TV and the phone are just fads, too. They'll never last.

By P Dobbs

Tired of reading "I am going to Waldbaum's" - on BOTH facebook and twitter. Wow - really??? That is so important that you had to put it on TWO medias.

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