It is indeed a strong statement that these days spoof content streams carry as much weight as the genuine article. Back in the days of 3 television networks plus the local PBS affiliate (if you were lucky) people relied on impressionists like Rich Little (still alive!) to say things for the famous and infamous that we wished they had said.

Our fascination was part for the craft of the imitation, and part for the shock value of what was being said. Or done.

Today we have the parody Twitter account. Because there’s no barrier to entry to create a parody Twitter account (read: No Skill Needed At All), there is a much wider range of “content” to choose from. This means there is also a much wider range of potential threat to brands of all types, from celebrities to companies’ flagship products to those we elect to public office.

Or are they threats? Can a brand of any kind be lifted by the same rising tides of the public’s awareness of the parody? Put another way, with the immediate reach and transience of Twitter, is there truly such a thing as bad publicity from a fake Twitter account?

More to follow.