Twitter and Tweetdeck: A Match Made In Heaven?

By Renee Mitson

As you may have heard, Twitter is in the process of acquiring TweetDeck. No one knows the numbers for sure, or what the final number will be but it is in the ballpark of $50 million and includes stock in Twitter.

Even though this might be appear to be a love story of sorts, do not be fooled. Buying TweetDeck was a completely defensive move. TweetDeck, owned by Uber Media is gaining a larger and larger influence on the Twitter-sphere, and Twitter feared that TweetDeck was gaining too much influence.

I completely understand this move, but I wish it were not so. TweetDeck just is not that cool. Here at KM we are Hootsuite users through and through. Even with the desktop option, TweetDeck is not intuitive and really somewhat limiting. Hopefully this acquisition does not include a further merger of the two platforms, Twitter and TweetDeck. For instance, it would be plausible to have special features to encourage Twitter users to switch over. Not because Twitter likes TweetDeck but because it helps to keep other platforms from becoming front-runners.

Also, consider the ramifications of TweetDeck having control of at least 20% of Twitter users, and an active 20% at that.

There is much more to this story, read the full battle at Tech Crunch

Online Communities: In The Beginning

By Renee Mitson

The shift towards online communities started more as a fantasy than an actual movement. Above is a map used on Mashable dictating the original “road map” of where people thought online communities were headed. Made in 2007, MySpace still reigned supreme with content-based “journaling” communities such as Xanga and LiveJournal right behind them. Wikipedia was known of as more of a nerd fest and way to quickly write a paper and blogs were in the sea of unknown, with few people consistently following one blogger or concept.

Take a look at the map created in the last year, charting the “geographical” change in online communities:

Here, Facebook has out-shot the competition becoming the King of all social networking. Sites such as MySpace are no longer considered particularly relevant in the business model of most companies, with only a stronghold in Indie and local artists.

Leaping out from sheer anonymity, Twitter is now a socially relevant tool that can be used for brand image and reaching out to users who may be worlds away. Unlike Facebook, which is largely based on communicating with those you already know, Twitter helps users to connect with strangers. LinkedIn has emerged as “ business Facebook,” and will likely maintain usage for those looking to make largely business connections.

Where Online Communities Are Headed:

Since online communities have now served the needs of a mass audience, the shift is starting to turn towards niche communities or communities that are more exclusive as opposed to inclusive. That does not necessarily mean they are “unfriendly” but more that people are looking for a way to connect that is narrower than Facebook. Communities are being built centered around content and topics ranging from Pilipino-American lifestyle (Bakitwhy) to a love for trendy cooking (http://www.hipstirfresh.com/) to even more serious topics such as grief coping (http://www.communitygriefsupport.org/).

In terms of the next “big community” it seems like the true takeovers occur from communities the skyrocket to domination, as opposed to slowly climb the ranks in popularity. That being said, if I were a betting girl, I would put my money on a site that helped people find communities of all different topics, like a Google for communities. There has been some movement towards this trend, but it seems to me this spot is still up for grabs.

15 Important Facebook Functionalities

By Roland Quitaling

“Add me on Facebook!”

“Please don’t tag me in those photos.”

“Ew. Did you like her status?”

These are just a few of the common phrases we find in our colloquial language today. Facebook is becoming more than just a social networking site. It’s becoming part of culture. I want to delve deeper into why Facebook is the largest social networking site in the world. Why, exactly, does it have more than 800 million active users? In attempt to answering this, I wanted to list the 15 most important functionalities that benefit both its users and its business.

1. Membership

To gain access to any of Facebook’s services, membership is required. Membership grants the user with responsibility of taking care of his or her own profile. Each member’s profile is his or her identity in the Facebook network. With a growing population of Facebook users, users join to be connected to their loved ones, business, and colleagues. Restricting their services solely to members, Facebook controls the environment by introducing advertisements and incentives.

2. Networks

The networking capability of Facebook is the majority reason why people choose to sign up for membership to the site. Facebook connects users to one another in a convenient fashion with the easy click of adding a friend. The site connects classmates, coworkers, family members, and people in the community. Separate from e-mail, phone conversations, and texting, Facebook strives to become a convenient experience that incorporates all forms of communication into one. When people grow to realize this, they join Facebook.

3. Friends

Acquiring friendship with users of Facebook is the principal way to connect to others. Not only is the user vouching for other Facebook users, but also subscribing to everything the user has to share. The user can use Facebook’s friendship to learn of others on a deeper and personal level. Faebook uses the user’s curiosity to promote products, coupons, and services to generate revenue.

4. Privacy

Facebook provides the functionality to customize the users’ privacy. Providing exclusivity to the networking schema is what helps drive people to connect with others. It allows the user to control what he or she shares to whichever networks he or she chooses. Privacy on Facebook helps secure their users from leaving by providing options and relieving their fear or disclosure.

5. Newsfeed

The Newsfeed is an important feature to the Facebook user. It keeps the user in ‘the loop.’ The live feed headlines updates relevant to the user in some way. Facebook uses this feature to spark responses, discussions, and interaction and encourages users to remain on the site.

6. Profile

This is the user’s identity on Facebook. It contains a wall of public messages posted by other users. It also contains the user’s status updates and information. It links others to the user’s photos. The profile is what links users to their networks. Given the information provided in a Facebook profile, it is what initially sparks users to join and become a member of Facebook.

7. Wall Posts/Comments

Facebook offers the ability to publically share opinions and messages on profiles, posts, photos, and etc. Facebook utilizes their comment system to promote interaction on their site. Facebook exploits the users’ right to share their point of views across the networks they are individually connected to.

8. Like

The ‘Like’ feature is an important and simple functionality offered by Facebook. It displays the Facebook user’s approval of a product, page, post, or anything that can be shared on Facebook. The like creates publicity by showing up on the news feeds of connected users. The Like also acts as credibility system for accompanying companies, services, and products on Facebook. The more likes garnered entails how legitimate and reliable something shared shows to be.

9. Photos

Facebook’s application, photos, shares images on the site and identifies the user and those who are tagged. The site comprehends that a pictures are indeed worth a thousand words. The photos application allows users to examine others’ profile on another level and feeds their curiosity.

10. Events

Facebook allows users to promote events, invite users to their events, and keep track of who are attending. Facebook uses this application’s simplicity to attract users to create e-invites via Facebook. As a result, users who do not have Facebook are gestured to join in order to participate and RSVP.

11. Groups

‘Groups’ provides users the ability to create their own networks and can be used for discussions and events. This application is another way for Facebook to campaign users to apply for membership and concentrated interaction.

12. Chat

Facebook Chat allows users to chat with their Facebook friends on a one-to-one basis or multiple friends simultaneously through the groups feature. With users spending a significant amount of time on the site, Facebook exploits this by making them available to chat. In attempt to replace instant messaging platforms, Facebook uses chat to persuade users to remain on the site.

13. Messages and Inbox

The Message and Inbox system allows users to send messages to any discoverable profile. Since it is tied to the profile, users are comfortable sending a Facebook message to the person rather than to an e-mail address.

14. Notifications

Using e-mail, text, and a badge system, Facebook’s notification services keeps users up to date of any event changes, wall posts, tagged photos, and etc. Notifications alert the user to access Facebook and interact at moment’s notice, given its urgency.

15. Third-Party Applications

Giving developers their API and tools, Facebook allows third-party developers to create their own applications on the site. Utilizing elements of Facebook, the applications offer a unique experience to the user. Using Facebook as a platform for their applications, these developers must abide to Facebook’s terms of agreement. Facebook has ultimate control over what these developers produce.