Producers of American Idol have banned contestants from connecting with fans online Weeks after lifting its long-standing non-disclosure clause by allowing Season 9 finalists to chat with Idol viewers via FOX-approved online accounts with social networking giants — including MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter — the talent show is putting the kibosh on the practice.

On Wednesday, every season-nine hopeful sent out a generic tweet, advising fans that “all my updates from now on will be on our Official ‘American Idol’ 9 Contestant Page … @AI9Contestants.” Each individual Facebook account featured this message: “Thanks so much for joining my Fan Page! All my updates from now on will be on our Official American Idol 9 Contestant Page, please become a fan there to read all my updates throughout the season!”

Too bad! It was nice for Idol to actually come into the 21st century and give fans a chance to chat with the singers that they spend all season vigorously campaigning for. We wonder what brought about the sudden change?