Hi. My name is Laura and I’ve been twittering for two years. (this is where you say “Hi Laura!”) Don’t know what Twitter is? Here’s a great video explanation: Twitter in Plain English

While some might think it is an addiction, I view it as more of an ingrained communication channel much like the cell phone and e-mail have become. Lots of people are using it, including many celebrities as wide-ranging as Lance Armstrong and Brittney Spears. But, I don’t usually follow many of them. It seems they either update rarely (hello Luke Wilson) or don’t fully engage by following others or replying to tweets.

But, I’ve begun to watch something interesting develop with a celebrity family on the site: Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk), Demi Morre (@mrskutcher) and now her daughter Rumer (@therue)

I discovered them through a news article about Ashton’s comments regarding the recent brouhaha surrounding Michael Phelps and apparently his comments about neighbors had previously caused a stir. He is obviously updating often and appears to be engaging with those who talk to him through Twitter.

Some think that the couple’s tweets about upcoming projects are just for publicity, but that strikes me as a bit self-rightous. I mean, hey, aren’t about half of everyone’s tweets a bit of self publicity? I tend to think she means it when Demi replies that they just find Twitter fun!

And, now she’s encouraged her daughter Rumor to join that fun:

I’ve tried to interest my husband in Twitter several times, but with no success. Since my girl is only six, getting her on has not crossed my mind, but if she were Rumer’s age it might. It could give us both greater insight into each other’s day - that chance to look through each other’s eyes.

What do you think? Could this new means of connection be good for families?

[UPDATE: Looks like M.C. Hammer (yes, he of big pants fame) is getting in on the family twitter act, introducing his son to the world recently]

Screenshot of MCHammer twitter

Laura P. Thomas is the wife of a former rocker and mother of one 6-year-old girl that’s already waaay too interested in The Jonas Brothers (the apple didn’t fall far). She works in the Global Online team at Dell, evangelizes virtual worlds, and twitters too much as LPT.