Amanda Bynes’s Twitter was never normal. Anybody who follows her, TMZ, or The Huffington Post, or has a Facebook/Twitter friend who does, has had something to say about the opinions, stories, expletives, and nonsense that Amanda chose to share with the world since the beginning of the calendar year (when she either created or started using her account). Since her comment about Drake in March drew public attention to her tweets, Amanda has assumed several roles for herself. Maybe she’s “just doing her” as Miley Cyrus fans might say. Maybe she has a law degree, is an established publicist, and/or an expert on the female body and what it’s supposed to look like. Most likely, she’s a confused girl who came back into the spotlight at a bad time in her personal life. Regardless, her dramatic evolution from a harmless former child star to a controversial public figure facing criminal charges and undergoing extensive medical care can be traced through her tweets, and in my opinion, they’re worth pointing out.
It started in March, when…
Amanda was in love with Drake
…and was a huge creep about it.
She became very defensive about her selfies,
and started to consider a career in law.
Things really picked up in April…
when she assumed the role of her own publicist,
while continuing the pursuit of that law degree,
and started to try and get in shape (in a very unhealthy, destructive way).
Fast forward to June, when…
Amanda told it like it is,
admitted plastic surgery is the answer to unfulfilled dreams,
let us know that beauty is actually on the outside–and all us “ugly” people can’t be her friend–
and reaffirmed everyone she was still in love with Drake.
And I guess July is actually “National No Filter” Month because Amanda…
reminded us again how great Drake is,
made outrageous ransom requests for her mind and her privacy,
and live tweeted her recovery from plastic surgery.
Keep in mind, these are just two dozen of what I can only assume is hundreds of tweets Amanda posted in the last 6 months. She has been since hospitalized, initially under a 5150 order (a California law that can admit a person to a psychiatric hospital if they appear to be a threat to his or herself, others, or the public) and later officially admitted as a patient. I see no point in speculating about Amanda’s mental or physical health, but in my opinion it is fair to assume that the more publicity her Twitter account received, the more outrageous, inappropriate, and self-deprecating she became.
In closing, I think there are a few lessons every collegiette can learn about Twitter etiquette from Amanda Bynes and her outrageous, hysterical, and most of the time, sad posts:
- More followers does not mean more liberty to offend.
- You can live tweet the Oscars; you cannot live tweet recovery from surgical procedures.
- If you love someone, let them know… but don’t be a huge creep about it.
- It’s good to know your rights… but that does not mean you’re a lawyer.
- Post pictures of yourself that you look great in!
- Understand that there are pictures you don’t look good in, and that’s okay.
- It’s okay to be insecure about your appearance… but talk to your friends or a professional about it, not your followers.
Oh, and don’t say this:
Because it’s definitely never a good disclaimer.
Sources:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=wic&group=05001-06000&file=5150-5157
https://twitter.com/amandabynes/with_replies
http://www.toofab.com/2013/07/23/amanda-bynes-hospitalized-on-5150-hold/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/amanda-bynes-drake-vagina_n_2929248.html
Photo Sources:
https://twitter.com/amandabynes/with_replies
http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2013/gallery/90s-child-stars/amanda-bynes-660.jpg