When I use Twitter, it is for one thing only, promotion. I use it to promote my blog. I throw the link up on it every week, hoping it will attract at least one intrigued follower to wander over to this blog. But when I go on Facebook, I am funnier, more outgoing and of course less predictable and professional.
On Facebook I try to be persuasive, say things that will get an reaction. But still I monitor what I'm saying. I make sure I am not a part of the day-to-day hub-a-lub. I try to step out of the box, that is when I step off the sidelines and decide to say something. But there are some people who use Facebook as a sounding board for their emotions. This is not what I or anyone else would like to hear. Except of course when the sounding off contains juicy gossip. Of course Facebook has a broader network with 500 million people world wide. Twitter sits around 70,000 registered users.
But each website is designed in a unique way that shapes the way you can share your thoughts. For instance, Twitter has it's 140 character limit where Facebook does not. Also Facebook is more versatile. You can not only see people's status updates but their new photos, interactions with other users etc.
All my friends have Facebook, and even some of my aunts. I know very few older males,(my dad's age) who have Facebook, it seems to be taking off wiht older woman. i suppose the interacting with friends and family and snooping on what they're doing in their lives is a woman thing(in my family at least.)
Surprisingly my brother who is a engineering student doesn't have a cell, but has Facebook. My sister and I often communicate to him through messages on Facebook. The website is extremely useful for connecting people who don't know each other. For instance this spring break my friend Britt and I planned a trip to Assessippi. We each invited our siblings and starting a mass conversation that went out to all the trip-goers helped us keep in touch with everyone via one message. It was easier then finding everyone's email too.
Speaking of email I use Facebook to send links now. Instead of going to GMail which I barely have open on my computer anymore I just go to Facebook, type in the person's name and send it as a message. This usually means the person will get it right away too.
When it comes to adding people I don't know I'm more cautious then ever. I used to add people willy-nilly thinking I must know them if they added me. But I recently was quoted in the Free Press saying I do add people I don't know. Well, the stupidity in that is tehy had my full name printed. People could just search my first and last name and add me. This caused to be more of a hassle then anything. After that little eye-opening incident I remain cautious when adding new friends.
With Twitter it's different. I allow anyone to follow me as i believe it is not as personal as Facebook. I don't post photos of my birthday and camping trips up on Twitter. I keep it strictly to blog links and interesting saying I've heard throughout the day. Interestingly very few of my friends outside of school have Twitter. They all seem disinterested by keeping up two social networking websites. This does seem logical as after I signed up for Twitter more then a year ago i stopped using it until school.
So whether you are tweeting, status updating or posting photos you are using one of these two very popular social networking sites. They each have their pitfalls, but are extremely useful for communicating with others.
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