Twitter CEO: Archbishop Nichols’s critique of social networking is ‘silly’

August 06, 2009

Twitter CEO Evan Williams has dismissed Archbishop Vincent Nichols’s critique of MySpace, Facebook, and other social networking sites. Following the death by drug overdose of a 15-year-old who had been bullied online, the Archbishop of Westminister had said, “We're losing social skills, the human interaction skills, how to read a person's mood, to read their body language, how to be patient until the moment is right to make or press a point.” He added, “Too much exclusive use of electronic information dehumanizes what is a very, very important part of community life and living together.”

Twitter’s CEO countered, “I think it's kind of silly, anyone who says that isn't really familiar with the service because it's about humans connecting with each other and often in ways that they couldn't otherwise and it's the opposite of dehumanizing as far as I'm concerned.”

 

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Further information:

• Twitter CEO dismisses claims that social networking 'dehumanises' (Daily Telegraph)
• Parents of dead bullied schoolgirl plea for better social networking site monitoring (Daily Mirror)
• Leading English prelate warns against Facebook, MySpace, calls for tax breaks for traditional families (CWN, Aug 3)
• Twitter