This is especially the case when they tweet about what’s on their minds, sometimes against their followers’ expectations, which can then force them to retract their statements or being forced to justify their views in public.

Increasing numbers of prominent and well-known Saudis, including Islamic scholars, thinkers and authors, are signed up to Twitter.

However, for those following the Saudi Twitter scene, one cannot help but notice the amount of public ranting and sometimes harsh direct responses on some Twitter accounts belonging to these Saudi public figures. These online tweets between Saudis sometimes can cause minor scandals to break out in public.

Twenty-six-year-old tweeter Amer told Arab News: “It is natural really; social networking services are an open form of communication. So is the Internet in general, in the sense there are no barriers found in this medium like the television or on the radio. Online you can communicate with the source directly.”

However, scandals breaking out in a phenomenal manner because of unchecked tweets are not new. In the US for example, several famous American celebrities, media personalities, and politicians were forced to deal with public humiliation because of a tweet.

In June this year for example, former New York congressional representative Anthony Weiner had to resign over a Twitter sex scandal.

“In my view the difference between using Twitter here and in the US is that several prominent Americans have the chance to verify their accounts through Twitter to assure the public that they aren’t fake. This possibility isn’t available to tweeters here,” said 25-year-old Jeddah resident Majid.

“There are several cases of people posing online on Facebook or Twitter as important Saudis and interacting with the online community by making out as if they are the real person.”

Others suggested that the famous perhaps should hand their accounts to a PR agency to avoid embarrassment.

“In a way it is a double edged sword. The point of using this micro-blogging website for these famous Saudi figures is to speak their minds to their followers and interact with people,” said Mohammad Farooq, a university student.

“Normally Saudi public figures don't see their followers in public and they don't know what they have in mind. As a result their online followers might post anything they might not like about them personally. This could affect their public image when they speak their minds, especially when these tweets are accessible on the World Wide Web."