Ashton Kutcher breaks through the 1 million twitter followers barrier

Hollywood 'legend' Ashton Kutcher is the first person to break through the million barrier for followers on Twitter.

He was shortly followed by CCN's breaking newsfeed half an hour later.

So what, you might ask, has Mr Demi Moore got that is so much more interesting than all the other celebrities who are taking part in the micro-blogging phenomena.

I must, at this point, make a confession. I did myself start to follow Ashton (left) on twitter (his 'handle' is aplusk) purely for nasty journalistic reasons.

I wanted to do a blog on the pointlessness of so much which is posted on twitter (and let's be honest, posts of the 'just had toast for breakfast', 'I'm tired', and 'I'm in Tesco' variety assume a colossal level of interest on the part of your followers, and also, I hesitate to add, indicate a huge ego on the original poster), so I picked Ashton purely on the basis that he seemed such a pointless Hollywood actor that it was likely to be full of such air-headed nonsense that it would make for a top posting.

You'll also have noted that such a blog hasn't appeared, and I suppose, that also reveals the reasons behind his Twittering success.

The key, as Alistair Campbell might say (see blog below) is authenticity. He genuinely updates the posts himself, and conducts conversations various other stars, as well as his wife Demi, allowing any follower an insight into his life.

He hasn't fallen into the trap of getting one of his flunkeys to update it on his behalf, purely using it as a cold-eyed marketing tool.

Aussie actor Hugh Jackman (right) came a cropper when he posted: "Having lunch on the harbor across from the Opera Center. Loving life!"

The twitter community wondered at the use of the word "Center" instead of "House" in relation to Australia's most famous building, but also at the American-style spelling.

Turns out some underling in the US typed it in for the Wolverine star.

Similarly rapped 50 Cent and pop singer Britney Spears (as if anyone thought she did it herself...!) have been unmasked as having their accounts 'managed' by staff members.

So the lesson is - do it yourself and keep it real (kids).

Follow me on twitter for updates.