Facebook stormed onto the scene in 2005 with a social networking site that overwhelmed people to the fullest -- featuring wall posts, poking, biographies, picture sharing and more. Millions of college students across the nation signed up for accounts and soon let it consume their lives. For a few years, it put MySpace to shame. As Mark Zuckerberg, the creator, began to fill it up new layouts, irritating advertising and people of all ages, not needing a college e-mail address to sign up, it fell off a bit. Twitter jumped in and said, "Hey, I'm going to take some hits away from you now letting my users Tweet, share pics/links and get notifications about jobs, event openings and more. Now, the heated battle continues and poses the question -- Which is better, Twitter or Facebook? Are they worth comparing? Sean and Sam obviously think so.
Sam (for Facebook):
I use both Facebook and Twitter, so I can't be too critical of America's favorite new social network. However, I am a Facebook fan to the core. I've been using Facebook since I graduated high school and I suppose it's found a special place in my heart. I think Facebook is a better way to stay connected and in touch with people than Twitter. In my opinion, Twitter is simply a series of status updates that I usually don't need to know about my friends and acquaintances.
Facebook provides information like current job, birth dates, pictures and political/religious views. While Twitter simply shares what someone is doing at that moment. Aside from a few close friends who I enjoy knowing what they're doing every minute, I typically don't care about having a live feed on peoples days. If I want to say in touch with someone, I would rather receive general information -- not what they ate for lunch.
I believe Twitter is great for politicians, public figures, newspapers and television stations. Twitter provides short and sweet up-to-date news. It's been a wonderful way for Iranians to spread the word and for news stations to get information out. However, for the average Joe, I just don't see Twitter being a very useful mode of communication. If you do happen to have a serious status update, Facebook provides the update feature along with all of its other amenities.
I'm not sure if I can totally stand behind either network though. I've spent plenty of evenings sitting on Facebook wasting time, avoiding homework and other responsibilities -- I'm sure Twitter has had the same effect on others. What happened to telephone calls and sending mail for keeping in touch? Sadly those, more personable, forms of networking are becoming a lost art.
Sean (for Twitter):
This is monumental for me to back either side, because I think social networking is slowly destroying personal relationships in this world. Face-to-face contact is losing its value, but since I know the world is becoming more of a technological place, it's necessary -- especially in media and in getting your name out there -- to be signed up for as many as you can. Following and being followed on Twitter is simple, easily navigable, useful and worthwhile. Sharing incredible, humorous or groundbreaking stories or links is fun and educational. TwitPic allows pictures too. Tweeting between people is normally short 'n sweet, using just 140 characters, so the obnoxiousness is usually left out, because you only have room for the important stuff. Facebook bombards you with newsfeed, scandalous photos of people you probably shouldn't have added as a friend anyways, pointless applications that coincide with what chain letters were in email and so many other features that, at the end of the day, are kind of trashy. It can be addictive but stalkerish too.
Twitter, for the most part, is a more professional atmosphere and realm where you can easily create a "work Twitter" and a "personal Twitter" if you so please -- which many people do. Tweeting is a conversation starter. "Hey, I saw your Tweet about ... I totally agree ..." It's the old-style water cooler that I wasn't immediately on board with, but since comparing it to Facebook and all the cons that consistently pop up within Zuckerberg's creation, I have to side with it. I'm growing up and "FB" is beginning to appear childish and immature to me. I have to constantly defriend people because I don't care and I have absolutely no desire to see what they're up to. With Twitter, that's so much easier to get exactly what you want -- and only what you want. Follow me: @seanely1
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