This is one debate that I do not feel will ever get resolved until one of these two social networks is phased out. I personally use Facebook and Twitter, and of course like most people, I got a Facebook before I got a Twitter. My Facebook page came into existence in April, 2008, while my Twitter page was created probably in November, 2011 to promote my electronic music as artist alias Mixman86.
A popular misconception however is that Facebook is so much older than Twitter when it honestly is only two years its senior. However, both social networks are compared immensely and with good reason. Although they have blatant similarities in operation, how they are layed out is completely different. In this article, I will analyze both and make my final judgement on which social networking website is more user friendly. And for the minor Myspace population left nowadays, it is not you guys and there is a reason why you will not be discussed.
'Facebook versus Twitter' has been a heated argument that has split the Internet in two. Facebook critics claim that Facebook changes its layout too much (forcing many users to have to adapt) and has security issues due to spamming posts that, if clicked on, will send billions of messages out on to your friends' walls and chat boxes about something. Twitter critics, on the other hand, feel that tweets being limited to 140 characters is too short and that it is not as good when posting links.
As a Facebook user, I agree that it changes its layout way too much. It frustrated many when they brought about the new "Timeline" profile page, taking away the one that many users had just gotten used to from last year. This timeline feature also allows your friends to look at your posts from years past since you first got your Facebook, and how you feel about that depends on what you have posted in the past and whether you
want everyone to be able to see it. However, Facebook offers many advanced security options and does not limit your status updates as much as the limited Twitter tweet. With pages to like and games to play, I would say that Facebook is definitely as user friendly as they get.But as a Twitter user, I have also found there are some varying options that separate it from Facebook. For one thing, tweets are too short, and I don't know if that is to challenge its users or to save its own server space, but 140 characters is usually not enough when I am attempting to advertise my articles or my music. However, that is honestly my only huge complaint about Twitter. The hashtag function helps you connect to other people and pages talking about the same thing you are and you can talk to people you are following with an "@" tag. Your username characterizes your page and you have more accessibility and connection to famous celebrities, athletes, and companies.
So the question is: Which one is more user friendly? For my purposes, I have to go with Facebook. As much of a hoot Twitter is to use, I feel that tweets are too terse, and it requires too many to get your thoughts across. Facebook gives me more space in status updates and when I link a photo or video, it comes up with a thumbnail rather than a link that looks like an encrypted war message like Twitter does. I know I will have many haters after this article, and I ironically, I will be advertising this column on both social networking sights. All of them, but Myspace. Myspace users, when you are ready to get either a Facebook or a Twitter, I will graciously say, "Welcome to the 21st century."