I’m not sure how many of you are avid TV watchers & Tweeters (Twitterers?) like myself, but I can’t help but notice this growing trend.

What is it?

For different TV shows, the once I’ve noticed have been Mad Men and Glee, the main characters are now on Twitter.  Most of the ones I have seen don’t seem to be directly correlated or operated via anyone at the TV show or network, but rather fans of the show. But what does this mean?

1. The TV makers/producers/network lose control. These characters are able to assume the identity of this fictitious person and interact directly with fans during the show, and any other time they decide to. This means what they do and say is out of their control (unless, of course, they decide to attempt to shut down these Twitter accounts, as the creators of Mad Men attempted to.)

2. Bigger following. Twitter has a very, very large influence over what a large group of people do, watch, say, etc.  If something is trending, people are going to investigate, and if they have several Twitter handles (the official account, the character, etc.) popping up, someone is more likely to find their product and become a follower — or at least knowledgeable.

3. Reality to non-reality. TV was around before social media, people still tune in to tune-out of the rest of the world, to forget about their problems. Now, Twitter is bringing them a means of bringing this false-reality into their every day life.  Scroll through your Twitter feed. Most of those people are REAL, but when your favorite-fictitious-character appears, you still feel connect, almost as if that is a real person.

4. Trust. Tying in to #3, people are going to feel a stronger bond, connection & trust with these characters and this program. Thus, people will be more loyal followers, spread the word & gain more followers for the program.

5. Interaction. In our world today, this is almost key to any sort of success.  Interacting with your fans is almost just as important, if not more, as drawing them in.  People need to interact to stay focused, to care, to participate. As stated in #4, people are more likely to feel connected with something if it feels real, if it connects with them on a personal level. To achieve this, you must be able to interact with that person.

Now, TV shows & programs have become more than a hashtag, or a simple Twitter account. It’s more than fans Tweeting during the show, and it’s gone beyond reality shows where hosts, contestants, or whoever are able to Tweet during/after the airing. It has now transitioned into the world of fictional TV, bringing our means of escaping reality into our every day lives. It’s a way of developing the character beyond the screen, and seeing interaction that cannot be aired in the allotted amount of time.

Will there come a day that with launching a TV show, this also means Twitter accounts?

Will this mean that some day, the character/plot development on these “personal” character Twitter accounts are as important as in the program itself?

Have you ever experienced this? How has it influenced your relationship/interest in the show?