TORONTO — Call it a “Twee-cession.”
Some of the big stars who gave social networking site Twitter a buzzy boost have recently retired from sharing the minutiae of their lives in bite-sized online updates.
And while celebs including Miley Cyrus and Courtney Love have given up on micro-blogging voluntarily, others have been muzzled by their employers.
Reports surfaced this week that Cameron Diaz and Mike Myers have signed contracts that demand they refrain from Tweeting about the upcoming Shrek movie, though their reps have since denied it. And the NBA and NFL have taken steps to limit the amount of updates their players dole out — particularly around game time.
Whether by choice or not, celebrities seem to be moving away from Twitter lately.
“See, me, I’m about to take a little Twitter sabbatical, man,” rapper Wale, who has more than 106,000 followers, told The Canadian Press in a telephone interview while on tour in Western Canada with Jay-Z.
“I’m on a tour bus and there’s nothing to do, so all I do is look at (Twitter). It kind of changes your perception of reality.”
Twitter’s succinct, 140-characters-or-fewer format gives users the chance to share their thoughts in mere seconds — it’s so easy, in fact, sometimes people don’t think about what they’re posting, which proves particularly troublesome for immensely popular, update-happy stars.
Love bailed on the service only after her Twitter tirade against her former fashion designer prompted a libel suit.
Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley’s summer stint in rehab was preceded by a downcast series of tweets from the talented 20-year-old, including: “Feelin like it’s not worth livin!!!!!!! I’m done.” The drama began after he posted a picture of himself on Twitter in which small baggies could be seen in the background, prompting Internet speculation about their contents.
Fellow NBAer J.R. Smith also removed his account after a newspaper report linked his typing shorthand to gang lingo.
And Cyrus was continuously scrutinized for her popular Twitter feed, whether over potential feuds with fellow Disney stars or the minor web controversy that arose over a semi-provocative photo posted by the 16-year-old.
“I want my private life private,” Cyrus said in a YouTube clip, posted to explain her Twitter exit. “I’m living for me.”