Everyone has seen the change, and have debated whether it’s really a rip-off of Twitter’s microblog format. Those of us who have been through the microblogging wars see some other similarities, with the conversational commentary seeming to run more like Pownce and Plurk than the Twitter format of @s and RTs.
Regardless, the livestream seems to have created a great “who moved my cheese moment” for many social networkers. Most Twitter users really seem to hate it (though there are exceptions). I think this should be expected given Twitterers’ propensity to fiercely defend their network in the face of criticism.
But more importantly is the actual Fcebook users response:
The reason why? Simple, do the math, and in particular compare number of users versus pageviews (hat tip: Brian Solis for the graph):
There are more than 10 times the amount of Facebook users than Twitter users. Scale matters, as Jaiku, Pownce, Plurk and Brightkite have all learned when trying to take out a market leader like Twitter. Facebook’s gambit lies in its pervasiveness, that they will be able to succeed where others have failed simply by having an already established group of users.
There is no need for follower packs or fan solicitation on Facebook. They already exist. And the network will naturally flow family, friends and colleagues rather than having to get a recommended follow pack or worse, “game Twitter.”
Sixty-eight million versus 6 million is one heck of gun to level at a social network. Because if they adapt, the microblogging war may be over, finally and as a much bigger fish, Facebook already has a revenue model in place to monetize their new pageviews. While Twitter, well, I’m not sure how they make money. I wonder if Twitter thinks they should have sold to Facebook now?
What do you think?
Jimmy Wales nailed it.
The key to the new layout ISN’T what it looks like… it’s that YOU can make it look like something Twitter doesn’t have: Groups.
Just to the left of that “Tweet-ish Pow-lurk” stream, you have the ability to filter based on your groups of friends and associates.
It’s Tweetdeck in a browser.
Will Twitter wish they’d sold? Maybe. I suspect Facebook KNEW this was the strategy, and factored this in the intentional lowball offer to Twitter.
Hi Geoff,
One thing I’ve always loved more about FB than twitter and this is still very much the case is that a status update on facebook leads to more interaction with others.
Perhaps friendfeed may be the future, but their has to be less geekyness about these tools for anyone but early adopters to use.
I will never understand the hordes of folks complaining on FB. It’s a change and if it drives more revenue stream to FB, the changes will stay, to heck with user complaints .
Ike: Customization is a big, big thing. Great point.
Mike: I agree the interaction is increased, and quite frankly, it is friendlier.
Barbara: People have a hard time with change. Think New Coke.
New Coke is a bad analogy. That was fixing something that wasn’t broken, sort of like replacing the Honda Odyssey with a Dymaxion.
The people complaining about the new FB layout are almost always mad that thngs aren’t exactly where they used to be. They’re part of the 99.999% of the FB population who think Pownce is what your cat does, Twitter is a sound your budgies make, and Plurk is a sound you hear while sitting on the toilet. Whether FB behaves more or less like those sites is irrelevant to them.
I think Daniel Jeffers point (in your FB stream) is the most important factor that is still missing from this FB update. While the new interface now encourages more conversation amongst friends, the beauty of Twitter is the exposure of your thoughts to people you’d never even dream you’d meet. On Facebook, your opportunity to grow and learn new things is currently limited by your circle of friends. On Twitter, there are no limits. I’ll be curious to see how FB crosses that hurdle without severely affecting the current paradigm.
“I wonder if Twitter thinks they should have sold to Facebook now?”
What a perfect “Now is Gone” moment. Say… that would make a great title for a book…
One stat that may not be clear in your chart is the exponential growth of Twitter. Note that Twitter moved from #22 to #3 in one month. Twitter has gone from .5 million to 6 million users in less than a year (I believe). Both stats were before it’s recent publicity on Nightline, various NPR programs, Several New York Times and Wall Street Journal stories, and being mentioned on The Ellen Show, and The View twice. I’d be interested to see Marches numbers. Granted – Twitter is unlikely to knock Facebook off it’s spot any time soon, but it seems to be moving fast. However, Facebook was on Oprah (after the aborted Twitter takeover, and as they were launching new interface). I agree that Facebook’s installed user base, and their new interface might make for a comparison to Microsoft vs Apple. I doubt that Twitter will knock Facebook off it’s post the way Google did Netscape, but they are not both search engines (as G & N were) – they are both fruit, but they are not exactly both apples – to use an analogy badly. They both connect people to each other, but in different ways.
What makes Twitter more appealing to many, is that it is easier to connect with interesting strangers who have similar interests (a mix of business and personal interests), as you are not opening your whole life to them as you kind of do on Facebook (unless you play around with the privacy features). On Twitter all you are giving someone is the 140 character posts you choose to put up, and a short bio and one link. No Email, no Phone #, no access to your family, no photos unless you choose them. On Facebook I hear people saying – “who is that – I don’t know them, so I’m not going the ‘friend’ them.” On Twitter “it’s – who is that? Hmm, they share cool info, I’ll ‘follow’ them.” What makes Twitter work is the interaction with others and the ability to discover new people organically. If Twitter could make that easier to understand from day one, that might make it grow ever faster!
The problem I see with Twitter’s growth, is that it SEEMS like it should be easy/intuitive when you first try it, but it isn’t to everyone. I’ve seen many new folks try it (by monitoring Titter search) and not get it, but never click the help tab. The @replies arrow and tab are not intuitive. I’d be curious to see the # of new accounts started and abandoned. If Twitter added a hover tool tip (that you could turn on/off in settings) – that would help tremendously.
Geoff, I hope to see you in Philly March 23rd!
Of course this assumes that Facebook users want Twitter functionality. I might short-sell that one.
I think Daniel Jeffers point (in your FB stream) was the most impacting to me – I agree with him. I enjoy that I can connect on Twitter with people I’d never meet any other way or, in some cases, never dream of meeting. I like that Facebook works the same way but, for me, is a completely different conversation. It’s a place where I connect with closer friends, share our outings and thoughts about every day stuff, personal stuff, faith stuff, goofy stuff. The privacy settings allow me to decide who gets to see that more personal part of my life’ that’s something I dont’ want from Twitter.
I like the new FB feed. There are things I don’t like about it, but the ability to comment on each item in a threaded manner is great, as is the ability to give something a simple thumbs up. However, I was just commenting yesterday that they should add a “share” beside every entry for easy re-posting or RTing or RFBing or whatever we will call it. I think it will have users using more frequently, which is likely one of Facebook’s objectives.
Wow Facebook is doing awesome. Twitter has been taking off like crazy in the new year hasn’t it. I wonder if twitter could pass myspace. I wouldn’t be surprised with some of the new features they are working on.
Well i think Twitter can not please all of it’s users. So I think Twitter user should look on a more positive and brighter side of it.. Each person has different preferences after all.