Comments on: In Your Words: The Value of Twitter and Facebook

By: Chris Wilson

Chris Wilson — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:59:15 +0000

When my twitter account was 50-200 people, it was awesome. After it hit 2000 I started thinning the herd. Back in the very early days of twitter, I seemed to get a lot out of it. Once the noise became deafening, value became harder to find. Its more work now, and I have to filter it, but it can be done.

As for FB, I can get levels of use out of it. With privacy features and filtering, I share personal stuff with family and CLOSE friends (lots of value there) less personal stuff w/ my friends and networks, and the rest of the world gets the odd post and some portfolio images. Like everything, they are tools. These tools, however, have a tendency to change over time and you have to keep on top of them of they can become more (or less) than you need or are looking for.

All of that being said, I can, and do, turn them off for days at a time when I need to. No biggie. There’s always email alerts if someone is talking to me directly.

I enjoy your blog immensely. I especially enjoy your podcast. Whether you’re doing fiction or interviews, you like MUCH of the same stuff that I do, and I look forward to seeing what you’ve found. I can easily rummage around in my life and my hard drive and point to dozens of things and experiences (and even a few relationships) that would not have occurred were it not for the Hutch.

That being said, your twitter stream and facebook updates are competing in the noise, and I know I don’t hear you there nearly as well.

As with anything, a good vacation can help immensely.

By: WiredPig

WiredPig — Tue, 11 May 2010 03:34:09 +0000

I can see both sides. While, in the beginning I was a HUGE – and I do mean that to the extreme – Twitter user, I have cut way, way back on my use and interaction. I have even trimmed 1000′s of friends to pair down the noise.

My use of Facebook has also been on the slow decline. I am now mainly using it to keep up with my daughters in Colorado, Family in Texas and the midwest, and all those cool cats (like you J.C.) who’s works I enjoy (as a semi one stop for keeping up with feeds and news).

While neither FB not Twitter are perfect, far from it, I do feel that FB has done more in recent times to diminish the illusion of privacy on the service than Twitter. That is mainly due to the types on information that each service has. But this lack of privacy isn’t a new phenomenon, look at the Google CEO’s remarks of late on the subject.

As you said, its all in creating a good network, on either network. And, I do apologize for the PetVille posts over the last week… I’ll edit my prefs… I know how aggravating that is.

Be safe, J.C. I’m looking forward to new material from you, no matter when that happens.

By: Betts W

Betts W — Sun, 09 May 2010 02:51:58 +0000

I have met many new friends on Twitter, whom I will be visiting when in DC this month. Some I met on the last visit, and some I will meet this time. They also have become friends, and some will meet for the first time when we all get together. One must choose to follow the right people.

By: Gord Vass

Gord Vass — Sun, 09 May 2010 02:37:56 +0000

Growing up as a kid, I went to 11 schools and had to make new friends every year. I love meeting people and It’s something I never grew out of.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sat, 08 May 2010 16:27:41 +0000

Facebook puts all of my friends that I know in real life in the same place, and gives the the tools to collaborate and have conversations with them.

Twitter allows me to keep in contact (even if it’s mainly one-way) with people that I don’t necessarily know in real life, but are influential to me nonetheless. (Authors, Musicians, etc.)

As long as I can tell someone why I use a service, and why it betters my life on the web, I’ll continue to use it. If you feel that the time it takes to manage a direct line of contact between you and your audience does not outweigh the time not spent doing something else, that’s fine.

Try taking a break. Block Facebook and Twitter from your daily routine for a week, and see what happens.

By: eagleapex

eagleapex — Sat, 08 May 2010 03:15:19 +0000

I think that each mediums’ perceived lack of immediacy is a plus. You always feel pressured to answer the phone or reply to an email, but there is less pressure to engage in a conversation via social media. Pick and choose your messages.

By: Matt "TheGiant" Blocker

Matt "TheGiant" Blocker — Fri, 07 May 2010 21:55:42 +0000

I read the whole thing. Even though I already saw the comments that were left on Facebook before he posted them here.

By: Jason Penney

Jason Penney — Fri, 07 May 2010 20:04:02 +0000

I think I’ve gotten a lot out of Twitter over the years. I’ve had a number of exchanges that led to more meaningful experiences in those back channels. There are people I’ve connected with, things I’ve written, and projects I’ve contributed to I probably never would have otherwise.

I don’t follow a whole load of people though, so my signal-to-noise is probably different. Heck, I have noticed when someone falls off of Twitter, and I’ve tried to either get in touch with them or someone who would know if they’re all right.

I haven’t gotten so much out of Facebook.

Oh, and I am interested in what you’re thinking. Not so much what you’re eating, but if you want to tell me anyway, that’s fine.

(How many people who see this post on Twitter or Facebook will read the whole thing I wonder? Maybe they’ll just ‘like’ it!)