Sorry Sports Fans, @ESPN Has Sent You Packing

Following @theonion’s still record 485,000 cull last month, ESPN (@espn) becomes the latest high-profile Twitter account to essentially start over and unfollow almost everybody in their network.

Sorry Sports Fans, @espn Has Sent You Packing

From 102,467 on May 12 to just 54 at the time of writing – a drop of 102,413 in about 48 hours. That’s a reduction of 99.94 per cent. It’s also a very smart move, as Twitter simply doesn’t work if you follow tens of thousands of people back.

And with the new Business Center toolkit on the horizon, there’s absolutely no need for brands to clutter up their screens with everybody and their uncle just because they might want to send over a direct message. My money’s on @wholefoods next.

MEDIABISTRO EVENTS

Inside Social Apps Starts This Wednesday

Inside Social Apps starts this Wednesday! Join us on February 8-9 in San Francisco and hear industry leaders share their views on today’s most formidable challenges affecting social and mobile apps and games in 2012. If you haven’t registered yet, $599 early registration prices are still in effect (on-site passes are $799), so register today and save.