Comparison Essay

Twitter. Facebook. These names stir up feelings, opinions, and experiences in just about all
of us. Some love Twitter or Facebook more than life itself, while others merely have a
passing fancy in these services. Regardless of the level of involvement, there is no denying
the immense popularity of Facebook and Twitter. In July, many websites reported that
basketball player Lebron James began a Twitter account just days before he announced his
free agency destination. He drew 150,000 followers in 7 hours. Not to be outdone, pop
sensation Lady Gaga became the first person on Facebook to reach 10 million fans.

As these services rise in popularity, libraries have begun to use them to reach out to
patrons. Some libraries use Twitter but not Facebook. Some use Facebook but not Twitter.
Some use both Facebook and Twitter, while others use neither. Yes, the popularity of these
social networking services does warrant implementation as a way to reach patrons. But, as I
had always preferred using Facebook, was there room for Twitter at the table?

As I struggled with this issue, many questions occupied my thoughts when discussing
libraries and social networking. Should a library choose one over the other? What are the
major differences, if any? Does one service have greater value or return on your
investment? Was there an easy way to do both?

In May 2010, Illinois’ Fremont Public Library, where author Curt Tagtmeier is a reference
librarian, began a project that started a Facebook page and a Twitter profile to take
advantage of the popularity of social networking. This article will seek to answer the
question of whether a library should choose Facebook or Twitter in a battle of the social
network stars.

Two Social Networks Compete

Looking at my dilemma of Facebook versus Twitter, We are reminded of a time when people
constantly referred to the World Wide Web as the internet. Although the two were not the
same entity, people began to use the terms interchangeably. The same thing has happened
with Twitter and Facebook. Unfortunately, mainstream media have helped to give the
impression that Twitter and Facebook are synonymous, and this is not the case. Before we
decide how to use them in libraries, we must first answer the question of the function and
purpose of these two tools. They both function as social networking services. However,
Facebook as a social network is much more flexible and versatile. You can upload pictures,
videos, games, and apps to your profile; embed videos from YouTube; and post calendar
events. Twitter, at first glance, only allows for text, more text, and even more text with
links. Also, Twitter is a microblogging service while Facebook has many facets including a
microblogging component.

The difference between Facebook and Twitter emerges in this quality of versatility, but the
distinction between the two tools is much more complex than that. A couple of years ago,
such a project and such an article might have been much easier to implement and write, but
what has changed is that both services are trying to implement what the other does so well.
A couple of years ago, Twitter did not provide share buttons on just about every website on
the internet. Facebook pages had not become so popular either, with many users still
unsure whether to create a group or a page. Today, however, the distinction is not quite as
clear as both services try to become similar to the other. Facebook is becoming more and
more active as it has implemented new tools such as a new Facebook Mobile interface. On
the other hand, Twitter has tried to make itself more versatile. For example, you now have
the ability to link your account to other services such as LinkedIn. Also, the application
Twitpic allows users to share pictures through a Twitter account while the application
TweetDeck streamlines tweets.

Differences Between Facebook and Twitter

Let us now take a deeper look at each service as truly different entities through a
comparison of other available social networks. Yes, both Facebook and Twitter are social
networking tools. The reason behind the strong comparison between Facebook and Twitter
probably originates with the fact that these services are two of the most popular and
recognizable social networking tools on the internet. MySpace and LinkedIn have emerged
as the closest services to Facebook while Tumblr is probably the closest microblogging
service today to Twitter.

A major difference between Facebook and Twitter emerges in their methods of

communication. Facebook is, in fact, meant to be more passive, as Jeff Glasson noted in an
early 2008 blog post on the Social Media Today website. In contrast, Twitter seems a much
more active form of social communication in which the way you talk to people on the social
network emerges as much more conversational. Twitter has been likened to a giant party
where you know no one but wish to make many friends. In contrast, Facebook would be a
wedding reception filled with family and friends.

When looking at these two tools, one issue comes up quite frequently—the issue of privacy.
Privacy seems paramount to the users of Facebook, but Twitter users tend to embrace the
feeling that everything is public. Simply look at this difference in the two services: Facebook
gives you friends, while Twitter gives you followers. With Facebook, you often need some
sort of approval to contact another user while Twitter does not require the same type of
approval.

Facebook: The positives: Now, let us take a look at some of the other benefits that you
may not know about to using Facebook for your library, which we learned about through our
project. This social networking tool gives you the ability to import any blog address. Many
libraries, including mine, started blogs years ago on services such as WordPress and
Blogger. Yet trends have changed as Facebook has overtaken many of these blogging sites
in terms of popularity and relevance. As far as younger audiences go, this benefit of
Facebook becomes even more important. A new survey by the Pew Research Center’s
Internet & American Life Project found that, while one in 10 adults blog, only 14% of teens
do, down from nearly 30% in 2006. If you cannot bring the teens to the blog, why not bring
the blog to the teens in the form of Facebook? The best part is you do not have to change a
thing about your current blog. Colleagues post to the blog in the exact same way as they
have done in the past. After placing the blog address in the proper place, every post on the
blog is automatically added to your Facebook page. Staff can still contribute to your
Facebook page, but they do not require much Facebook expertise. The only downside of
importing your blog is you may only use one address. This may require merging if you have
multiple blogs.

One common misconception about Facebook is that you cannot customize it. This is not true
when discussing Facebook pages as we are today. By using the application Static FBML
(Facebook Markup Language), users can create brand new tabs of their own choosing with
fully unique content. For example, we created a tab called Reference Desk, which embeds a
Meebo instant messaging widget within our Facebook page for our fans to message our
service desks. The possibilities seem endless for FBML. They do have certain restrictions,
such as Java and certain tags not being allowed. I have only used HTML so far, but for more
information, take a look at FBML Essentials by Jesse Stay, which presents the reader with
an introduction to such customized design in the Facebook environment.

Twitter: The positives: Let us now take a look at some of the more positive
characteristics of Twitter. This service is fantastic for the person with a simple cell phone.
What do I mean by simple cell phone? A phone that makes phone calls and sends text
messages, not a dynamic BlackBerry or an iPhone with access to a web browser or
applications. This is where Twitter fits perfectly into the equation of the wide world of social
networks. Twitter allows you to interact while on your computer or your cell phone. Yet, all
of this seems a bit more complicated now that Facebook has developed a mobile version of
its site. This allows users the ability to update their Facebook statuses via text message.
Now, one must ask, why do people continue to use Twitter? One reason is that this service
does seem much simpler when viewing the account and profile creation process. The
amount of work involved in creating a Facebook account is more involved when compared
with Twitter. You can very easily send your first Tweet within 10 minutes of clicking “Sign
Up.” Facebook does take time to build up friends and refine your profile to your liking.

Another important reason to maintain a Twitter account is that longtime users become
attached to their social networks. They become accustomed to how a social network works
and the people on that social network. They swear by that social network much the same
way a person loves his or her favorite team or a favorite band. I have a friend who
exclusively uses Twitter and completely ignores Facebook. His friends and the people with
whom he communicates also utilize Twitter and not Facebook.

Our Facebook/Twitter Project Continues

Now, let us take a closer look at the results of our project, which involved the creation of a
Facebook page and a Twitter account at the same time. For a long time, my primary
concern had been the issue of logging into a Twitter account and a Facebook account
separately to update them. Recently, however, Facebook provided a way for you to connect
your Facebook status updates to your Twitter account and vice versa. If, for example, I
announce on my Facebook page that the library has a concert, then that same update will
post on the library’s Twitter account. You no longer need to log into different accounts to
post similar information. This means that you can now use Twitter without a lot of
maintenance, because everything can flow through your Facebook account.
This is a trend that offers unbelievable convenience—however, it does not offer a high
success rate. An article recently published on Social Media Today helps to explain this.
Author Paul Sutton lists “10 Reasons You’re Not Getting Followers on Twitter,”including
incomplete profile, automated tweets, repetitive tweets, and spreading your tweets out
instead of tweeting a lot in a short time. Even more interesting was this perspective: The
ideal Twitter profile should consist of “about 30% conversational @replies, 30% retweets
and 40% interesting broadcast tweets, hopefully with an opinion or link, of which only about
25% (10% of total tweets) are self-promotional.” In other words, a successful Twitter
campaign honestly connects with its followers. Many experts have said in previous blogs and
articles that the successful Twitter account for a business, or in this case a library, will
engage with its audience instead of making general informational announcements. This
means connecting with your users in ways that reflect their own postings. Make your posts
relevant to them.

We have promoted both the library’s Facebook and Twitter presences in the same manner,
with signs in our library, links on our website, and a notice in our newsletter. Currently, my
library has more than 100 Facebook fans while the Twitter page has six followers. I attribute
this to a couple of factors. First, as I indicated previously, we did not make our posts
relevant to the Twitter community but instead made our Facebook status updates our
Twitter messages. Second—and this factor is out of our control—Facebook might seem more
appropriate for a library to use as a social networking tool because of its popularity. From a
personal standpoint, my friends—by an overwhelming majority—use Facebook, not Twitter.

Lessons Learned

Where do we go from here? First of all, we must keep promoting and updating our Facebook
page. This formula seems to be working just fine by creating unique content not currently
found on our website. One thing to remember here: The process of more and more users
liking your page is a gradual one. There exists no quick and easy way to build up a fan base
(unless, of course, you’re Lebron James or Lady Gaga).

We also have begun to revisit ways in which we can improve the visibility of our Twitter
page. We have begun to understand that we cannot just create an account, make a few
posts on a weekly basis, and expect the followers to begin to flock to our Twitter. We must
now begin to actively follow relevant Twitter users. Another method could come in
retweeting posts made by other users to highlight a good book, movie, or CD that your
library may own. We may need to define our Twitter audience in an even more focused
manner. For example, we are seriously considering creating a separate Twitter account for
Readers Advisory. As noted on Businessweek.com, another creative way to use Twitter
would be to start a separate account for a big event such as a concert or a fundraiser. You
would identify the account by that event’s name. The message generated by Twitter to the
users would serve as the invitation to the event.

Our project so far has also taught us some of the more successful promotion methods
online to generate fans or followers for our Facebook or Twitter. For example, we need to
continue to create unique and innovative ways to make our Facebook special. We must
continue to offer dynamic services, which friends of friends see our fans using on their
newsfeeds. As for Twitter, the best way to promote the account is to follow relevant users
and make quality posts to those accounts that are interesting to those users. Yet, Twitter
and Facebook are not completely different to promote. This method of following can emerge
as productive for Facebook accounts as well. We have begun to look at other community
pages that are appropriate for our library, such as posting quick bulletins on community
pages such as the local community college. Finally, we plan on holding drawings for prizes
for new fans or followers, which can be successful on both Facebook and Twitter.

And the Winner Is …

Now, what are we to make of all this social networking talk: Twitter or Facebook, Facebook
or Twitter, Facebook and Twitter? Based on my library’s project results and what I have
learned about Facebook and Twitter, I have chosen to try to make both a successful
Facebook page and a Twitter profile. Social networking can come in many forms, and a user
can pick the website or application that he or she prefers. Many choices are out there for
everyone to pick from, and as promoters we must consider all of the social networks, not
the ones we prefer as users. The library is now in the unique position to use the wide
variety of social networks available to market everything good about our unique services.
Before anything else, we must remember that each social networking tool has its own
special value. If Facebook and Twitter were replicas of each other, then I would say that
choosing one over the other would be appropriate. However, the two services communicate
in different ways to different users with a different kind of impact. Finally, whether it be
Facebook or Twitter, there is no overnight shortcut to creating a successful page or profile.
Hard work and patience will always be a part of adding fans or followers. The critics out
there may say that it is a wasted effort. My answer would be that the popularity of social
networking does not seem to be fading at all, and you will never know its promotional value
until you try for yourself.
 People say that Facebook is for connecting with the people you went to
school with and Twitter is for people you wished you had gone to school
with. WhileFacebook is a multi-purpose social networking platform,
allowing users to chat, post photos and notes, and
play games, Twitter is built around the posting of short 140 character
messages, or “tweets.” They are the two most popular social networks
in the world. This comparison looks at their history, growth in user base,
strengths and weaknesses.
Comparison chart

Differences — Similarities —

Facebook versus Twitter comparison chart

Facebook Twitter

urrent rating is 3.8/5 urrent rating is 3.99/5

(713 ratings) (536 ratings)

Introduction Facebook is a corporation and online social Twitter is an online social networking
(from networking service headquartered in Menlo service and microblogging service that
Wikipedia) Park, California, in the United States. enables its users to send and read text-
based messages of up to 140 characters,
known as "tweets".

Registration Required Required

Alexa rank 2 (January 2016) 11 (September 2013)

 Facebook versus Twitter comparison chart

Facebook Twitter
Type of site Social networking service Social networking service

Key people Mark Zuckerberg Chairman and CEO), Sheryl Jack Dorsey, Chairman; Evan Williams,
Sandberg COO) CEO; Biz Stone, Creative Director

Current status Active Active

Website www.facebook.com Tor: https://www.twitter.com

facebookcorewwwi.onion

Written in C++, PHP (as HHVM) and D language JavaScript, Ruby, Scala, Java

Revenue US$17.928 billion (2015) $664 million (2013)

Industry Internet Internet

Features Facebook features include Friends, Fans, Wall, Tweet, Retweet, Direct Messaging,
News Feed, Fan Pages, Groups, Apps, Live Chat, Follow People & Trending Topics, Links,
Likes, Photos, Videos, Text, Polls, Links, Status, Photos, Videos
Pokes, Gifts, Games, Messaging, Classified
section, upload and download options for
photos

Advertising Advertising supported in the form of banner Advertising supported in the form of
ads, referral marketing, casual games, and promoted tweets and promoted
video ads. accounts.

Private Yes Yes

messages

Founded by Mark Zuckerberg Jack Dorsey

Upload Yes Yes

 Facebook versus Twitter comparison chart

Facebook Twitter
photographs

Instant Yes No
messaging

Launch date February 4, 2004 July 6, 2006

Headquarters Palo Alto, California San Francisco, California, United States

location

Number of Over 1 billion Over 500 million

users

Play games Yes, via apps on the Facebook platform No

Post updates Yes Yes

Languages Available in 140 languages Available in 29 languages

Share links Yes Yes

Number of 12,691 (2015) 3,000 (as of 2014)

employees

Users express Like, Share "Retweet" or "Favorite"

approval of
content by

Reblog posts Yes, you can share content you see on your Yes
timeline.

Follow trending No Yes

topics
 Facebook versus Twitter comparison chart

Facebook Twitter
Follow people No Yes

Privacy settings Yes Either public or private

Current $320 billion $10 billion

estimated value

Post length Unlimited 140 characters

Edit posts Yes No

Add friends Yes No

Users express Comment "Reply"

opinions about
content by

Mention users @(Name) The @ sign and then the name (e.g.
by "@user")

Type Public Public

Founded February 4, 2004; 12 years ago March 21, 2006; 10 years ago

Headquarters Menlo Park, California, U.S. San Fransisco, California, U.S.

Founder(s) Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew Evan Williams, Noah Glass, Jack Dorsey,
McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, Chris Hughes Biz Stone

Employees 12,691 (2015) 3,638 (2015)

Subsidiaries Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus VR, PrivateCore Vine

 Facebook versus Twitter comparison chart

Facebook Twitter
Users 1.59 billion monthly active users (Dec 31, 2015) 332 million monthly active users (January
2016)

Contents: Facebook vs Twitter

 1 History
 2 Uses
 3 Privacy
 4 Advertising
 5 Integration
 6 Financial History
 7 Controversies
 8 Recent News
 9 References
Facebook vs Twitter connections

History

Facebook was launched by Mark Zuckerberg, along with his college roommates,
in February 2005. It was initially only intended for Harvard students, but
eventually expanded to include students at other Boston colleges, Ivy
League universities, and Stanford. The site gradually added support for other
universities, before also becoming available to high school students. In
September 2006, it became available to any users over 13. On May 17th 2012,
the company went public. It was valued at $104 billion. Facebook’s user base is
still growing rapidly. A chart showing its growth can be found
here:http://www.benphoster.com/facebook-user-growth-chart-2004-2010/

Twitter was founded on March 21st 2006 by Jack Dorsey and was launched on
July 5th 2006. Twitter tends to be fairly secretive about its number of users, but
it had explosive growth between 2009 and 2011, with 2 million tweets a day in
 January 2009, 32 million tweets a day in January 2010, 90 million tweets a day
in September 2010 and 200 million tweets a day in July 2011.

Growth in worldwide user base for Twitter vs. Facebook. (numbers are in millions and
include bot accounts).

Uses

Facebook is used by members for a variety of purposes. It is mainly used by

individuals who wish to stay connected with, or reconnect with, people that they
know offline. As well as maintaining a personal profile and posting messages on
their “wall,” users can upload photo albums and videos, share links, write long
notes, send private messages to friends, text and video chat, and play games.

Twitter allows users to post 140 character messages, or tweets, and follow the
messages of other users on their Twitter feed. It is mainly used to communicate
with other individuals with similar interests, regardless of whether users know
one another off Twitter, and to follow updates from celebrities. Users can upload
photos, share links and send private messages to people they follow.

The video below compares the pros and cons of Twitter, Facebook, and
Google+.
 Privacy

Facebook allows users to select from various privacy settings, from a completely
visible profile to one that is not even searchable except by acknowledged
friends. Users can change the privacy setting on each individual post, from
public, friends only, private, or “custom.”

Twitter has two privacy settings: public and private. Private messages can only
be read by people that are followed by the user. Individual messages cannot
have different privacy settings.

Terms of Service for Twitter and Facebook, as rated by ToS;DR.

Advertising

Facebook features ads. These adverts are often catered to the user, based on
the preferences expressed in their profile. Facebook sells user info that has
been uploaded to the profile to other corporations.

Twitter does not feature ads. Twitter may sell user information to other
corporations.

Integration

Twitter and Facebook can be integrated. Tweets can be posted to Facebook

automatically using the Twitter app.
Many other websites can be integrated with Facebook, including GoodReads
and Wordpress. Facebook can also be integrated into other websites, and
Facebook login details can be used to access some other sites.

Twitter widgets can be added to a website or blog and can be integrated with
Instagram. Some websites allow users to sign in using Twitter.

Financial History

Facebook received a $500,000 angel investment from Peter Thiel in 2004. In

April 2005, Accel Partners made a $12.7 million venture capital investment, after
which Facebook was valued at $98 million. Facebook also received $27.5
million in funding from various investors in 2006, leading to a value of around
$500 million. In 2007, Microsoft purchased a 1.6% share for $240 million,
leading to a total implied value of $15 billion. Facebook is currently valued at
$104 billion.

Twitter was originally developed by the podcasting company Odeo. It has raised
over $155 million in venture capital since 2006. Its third round of funding, in
February 2009, raised $35 million, while in October 2009 the private-equity firm
Insight Venture Partners invested $100 million in the site. In 2011, Twitter was
valued at around $10 billion.

Controversies

Facebook has been involved in several controversies, particularly involving

privacy concerns. Facebook prevented users from permanently deleting their
accounts until 2010 and has been criticized for changing user’s privacy settings,
making more information publically visible or available to data mining, without
their explicit consent. The site has been repeatedly criticized for removing
photos uploaded by breastfeeding mothers and deleting their accounts.

The company Twitter has not been involved in any major controversies itself, but
the site has been the focus of several legal cases recently. In July 2012, a
British teenager was arrested after sending abusive tweets to Olympic diver
Tom Daley, and earlier in 2012, a student was jailed for inciting racial hatred
after tweeting abuse at Fabrice Muamba.