I just finished talking about why Facebook got the better of Google on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Summing it up, it simply meant that users look forward to more engaging content, apps for which Google is so not the obvious choice to spend your time on during holidays. I also talked about trends changing as you move across and time and again one name or the other would come stronger than another. Welcome Twitter, which has snatched popularity in mentions on the television for 2009. Facebook, is a close second.
Once again there is no link to either of the brands on the Web, (and they are way ahead of the third placed MySpace). But what’s important is the fact how and why do the rankings/traffic stats differ. While Facebook has taken the bite away in the year past, Twitter has held its reign firm where it matters. It has been quick in breaking news, spreading links virally, etc and it’s quickness is one major reason why it still has a lot to offer for users despite Facebook desperately trying to be like Twitter.
The micromessaging is definitely nothing compared to what Facebook offers but those 140 characters have changed a lot, quite quickly. We use Facebook a lot for all the sharing and commenting, etc but one thing is for sure that if Twitter is to go out, I will lose plenty of quick share and an equally quick comment from our followers. Plus it has to be said and accepted that Facebook keeps you locked to a handful of very close friends you have or the fans on your Fanpage, other than that you are only at the mercy of your friends sharing it further. Head over to Twitter and you are broadcasting your links, messages to the whole group of people who are your exclusive readers, whether they like it or not and chances of your message getting across are even higher. On Facebook, there is a very slight chance.
I am not sure if saying this would be appropriate or not but to me Twitter is a Broadcast of Broadcasts while Facebook is that national television that runs the channels you subscribe to. The information heading over to you on Facebook is quite filtered and you know which one is to be ignored but on Twitter its more of spontaneity where you might let go of the most important news and left clicking on something that’s ignored by many. Once again there is absolutely no point in taking the two together for I will never opt for one of them when I can have both. But let truth be said, Facebook is a winner on the long run, but as long as there is need to have news spread instantly Twitter will always be a part of the Cycle.
[stats thanks to SnapStream]
