Maj. Frazer: Just how much do you think human lives are worth, McCabe?Well, I don't know how much a human life is worth or what the market will bear, but I do know what the value of a Twitter follower is.
Marshal Guthrie McCabe: Whatever the market will bear! No more, no less.
-Two Rode Together (1961)
Last week, Mythbuster* Adam Savage (donttrythis) successfully fought off $11,000 in data and roaming charges from AT&T by directing the great displeasure of his Twitter followers, who at the time numbered around 50,000 (since swelled to over 67,000).
AT&T guy on the phone with me:" apparently you've got enough Twitter followers to get our attention." me: "50,000". Him: "wow"Minimum value of a Twitter follower = $0.22.
*Code for "Instead of doing basic math on TV, I blow things up"
From AT&T's own website:
Wireless: The convenient and affordable way to stay in touch abroad.
Affordable: a buzzword, meaning: 'if you can't afford to pay, we don't want your custom.'