So, a lot of people are giving Twitter a try these days. The site’s been around for some time now, but it’s taken a while for the concept to catch on – especially for most people used to the “profile-friends-wall” system of social networks like Facebook.
The creators of the microblogging site did indeed find it difficult to succinctly explain the purpose of Twitter to those uninitiated tweeps out there. After all, the site is not another Facebook. It’s an entirely different service all together.
Twitter is what you’d call a microblogging site. Instead of allowing you to write lengthy blog posts (like on this blog…), Twitter allows users to quickly express their thoughts. The media world has embraced this technology in quite an innovative way: exploiting its instant-update factor, they’re using Twitter to break the news – literally, telling the news as it happens.
Facebook, on the other hand, allows you to connect with people in a more extended manner; in essence, it extends the featureset of Twitter. Remember, this isn’t always a good thing. Sometimes, the more minimalist the system, the better and more refined it can be.
That’s not to say Twitter isn’t capable of allowing you to connect with other people. I’ve found it a wonderful and easy way to keep in touch with my editors overseas, and it’s certainly a great tool to use when collaborating ideas on a larger scale. Twitter is more flexible than Facebook; but on the other hand, Facebook is more feature-rich than Twitter.
Really, in my opinion, the perfect usage of the two is to see them in the light of synergy: two powerful entities that, when utilized together, can become a great way of keeping ahead of the world.
Sure, the concept of “Following” does lend itself to that creepy, stalkerish-feeling. But ultimately, Twitter is exceptionally powerful technology – it’s a facet of modern social media that’s reshaping the way we, as a human race, communicate. It’s up to you to decide whether or not to embrace the revolution. Twitter, and its brethren, are certainly not going to be waiting for you. As with all technology, they’re powering down the never-ceasing stream of progressive development. The question is: are you ready to take the plunge and grab onto the future now?
Life in Pixels 
Very rightly said. Twitter and Facebook are actually two different concepts. It is not right to compare the two. Twitter is more of a micro-blogging platform than a social networking site. It lets you share your views and opinions with the world. Whereas, Facebook is a complete social network. You use it to communicate with your friends, relatives, classmates etc. You share more of personal information on Facebook. Information that you would like to share only with the people you are close to. Whereas, on Twitter you share things that you want the entire world to see.
It is up to you as to how you use these 2 powerful platforms.
Totally agree with you, Karthik. And that’s a great way of looking at the two sites! 🙂