"Politicians, even more than businesses, use numbers to demonstrate their power," Mr Camisani, 43, told La Repubblica newspaper.
"They are part of the arsenal of modern-day communications – if you can flaunt a high level of support, you will attract further support."
But Twitter followers, and users of other social networking sites, were not always what they seemed, he said.
Mr Camisani Calzolari is a professor of corporate communication and digital language at IULM University of Milan and also runs the London-based Digital Evaluations, a company that evaluates the value of social media for companies and celebrities.
He has previously claimed that many online followers of DellOutlet, Ikea and other big name brands were bot-generated fakes.
Mr Grillo reacted angrily to the claims that more than half his supporters on Twitter were digitally-created phantoms.
The accusations were "entirely false" he said on his Twitter profile, adding that he was considering taking legal action against the academic.
His Five Star political movement has channelled voter anger towards Italy's traditional parties and performed well in local elections in May, with analysts saying it was now the country's second biggest party.
The blogger and stand-up comedian has become a potent political force in the face of resentment towards spending cuts and tax rises introduced by the technical administration of Mario Monti, the prime minister, who replaced Silvio Berlusconi seven months ago.
