A few weeks ago, my cousin posted this as her Facebook status update:
Read this online:
“Twitter makes you love people you don’t know.
Facebook makes you hate people you do know.”
Had to laugh.
I immediately “Liked” her post (what I do when I want to retweet something that strikes me as funny or clever or profound, but can’t because Facebook doesn’t have a retweet equivalent). Then I replied:
Sounds about right.
True Confession: I like Twitter SO MUCH MORE than Facebook.
In fact, I don’t like Facebook much at all. I only have an account (which, admittedly, I update fairly regularly) because I have friends and family sprinkled throughout the country and I feel obligated to share pictures and anecdotes having to do with my daughter. Every time I log onto Facebook I’m inwardly cringing. I know with a fair amount of certainty that there will be some random update from an acquaintance that’s an over-share, a complete bore, a bitchfest, or riddled with spelling and grammar errors. Ugh… and the ads. I’m so over the ads. And the games… Farmville? Really? And that little thumbs up next to the “Like” button… that really bugs me.
And then there’s Twitter. I LOVE Twitter. I love the people I’ve “met” there. I love the fast pace and the ease with which information is exchanged. I love the mix of fun and networking, entertainment and business. I love that I can follow or unfollow people at will, without hurt feelings or dramatic blow ups. I love that I can connect with people who enjoy what I enjoy (books, reality TV, tasty treats) and who do what I do (write, read, parent). I love the unique perspectives and the diverse cultures. I love refreshing my feed, knowing I’ll laugh or learn something new or bond with an online friend over something as silly as brownies or annoying stray roosters.
I like to hope I wouldn't need this reminder...
I know people who think Twitter is dorky, to which I reply: What?! Clearly these people are not tweeting and they’re obviously missing out. Twitter is all about swapping information and building genuine connections. You know, a little like Facebook. Only better.
Yes, I know there are all kinds of social media (most of which I know nothing about–I’m looking at you LinkedIn and Tumblr and Google +), but for now I’m sticking with Facebook (out of a warped sense of duty) and Twitter (because it rocks!).
What’s your social media drug of choice? Do you Facebook? Twitter? Other? Which do you prefer and why?
Oh, and have you entered my The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer giveaway? It ends this Thursday, so hurry! 🙂
katyupperman.com 
LOVE THAT QUOTE!!!
I will admit – I am a Facebook addict, but I have grown to love Twitter too. Facebook is where I keep up with former students and colleagues, and I love seeing pics of my friends’ families. But sometimes it is a little TMI. I do enjoy Twitter for the writerly updates and hilarious tweets, but I think I’ll always be a Facebook gal.
Yep, I think I’ll always be a Facebook gal too, but not always because I WANT to be. 🙂 And you must have classier Facebook friends then me, because I get A LOT of TMI!
This is me in a nutshell, very much like Alison. Twitter has become my professional social network while facebook is where I “interact” with every other person I’ve ever known. 😉 I don’t get the TMI for some reason…although admittedly I have spent more time on twitter the last couple weeks!
Kari, I’m so glad you’re into Twitter. I told you it’d be addictive!
I pretty much keep my Twitter account for all things writing, and Facebook for all things family and friends. But, as you may have noticed, there’s some crossover. 🙂
I’ve heard that quote before and LOVE IT. I’m with you 100%—Twitter makes me smile, and lately it’s also been the #1 way I get news and information generally. I feel like at least once or twice a week I’m telling someone, “Oh, I know, I saw that on Twitter a couple days ago.”
And, like you said, the connections are fun, easy, and real. People feel less pressure on Twitter and they are sillier and nicer and more interesting. It beats FB every day on the week and thrice on Sundays.
“Oh, I know, I saw that on Twitter a couple days ago.” If I had a dollar for all the times I’ve uttered that sentence in last six months… I’d be set for life. 🙂
I agree with you completely. I think about deleting my facebook account at least monthly, but then I always keep it for the friends and family that have spaced out of the country. It is the easiest way to stay in touch. BUT, if everyone would just get on Twitter, there would really be no contest. Oh, Twitter, how I love you. ❤
I’ve thought of deleting my Facebook many times. I think my mom would kill me though. She likes the immediate gratification of the photos I post of my daughter. It is convenient, but so annoying sometimes!
Everyone, come to Twitter!
Amazing quote! I’ve kept my Facebook completely separate from the rest of my social media, and at this point it just annoys me. If I have to witness one more status-update political fight between friends, I will puke!
I still can’t imagine quitting it though–I would feel like I lived on a different planet from all my friends/family.
I know… once you’re in, it’s way too hard to get out. Hence the zillions of people using.
I’ve witnessed a few political/parenting debates on my feed too. What’s funny is that more often than not, people don’t even know what they’re talking about!
honestly, i’m not too big on either! i do like twitter, but facebook…BLEH. it’s true about hating the ones you love through FB, hehe 😀
Why is it that people sometimes think it’s okay to show the worst of themselves on social media? People are, for the most part, so much better behaved on Twitter. 🙂
I need fb to stay in touch with friends and family, but I agree! So much TMI! Plus I need different fb accounts to keep track of the different online identities I have. I have one for former students and one for my normal life. I want to start another one for my writing life, but the thought of managing 3 fb accounts makes me want to tear my hair out. I do have 2 twitter accounts, but my private twitter is really just like a big chat room for me and my friends, so it’s easy to keep track of.
Twitter is just so much more fun. I love it.
A separate account for keeping up with students is a great idea. Surely you don’t want them knowing all your personal business. Still, I don’t know how you keep up with two Facebook accounts AND two Twitter accounts!
SO true! I do FB because I feel like I can’t undo it at this point… but I almost never read it or open it.
Twitter is mostly writer stuff, in fact I wish more of my regular friends were on it so I could read their tweets and communicate with them.
Agree! Everyone should just make the switch to Twitter. Wouldn’t the world be a happier place?
I’ve read that quote before and loved it!
Personally, I adore Twitter. However, like many others, I’m coming from a writerly perspective — and I think Twitter’s where it’s at for writers. I don’t use Facebook much, but I do like to use it to keep up with friends, especially now that I’ve graduated. Being a shy introvert, I think I’d be much more of a recluse — and much more likely to lose my connections — without Facebook. 🙂
I’m a bit of an introvert too, and you’re right, Facebook is a great way for those of us who are more shy to keep up with friends and acquaintances. I just wish the people in my feed were a little better behaved–like my Twitter friends. 🙂
I always wonder WHY people like their own FB status. So ridiculous. Even though I’m on FB constantly, I love Twitter much, much more.
I use Twitter so much more than Facebook. My family and friends use FB, though, and it seems to be the best way to keep up with them. (And yeah, it drives me crazy!) I’ve been trying to pull my fam over to Google+. It’s soooo much better than FB. You can select the group of people you share certain messages with, and I love the control.
Love the quote about liking your own FB status. Tee hee!
I’m so with you. Every time I log on to Facebook, I think, “Uhhh…you again.” And then I close it before I post anything because, really, I don’t want to be there. I feel the same way about Twitter as you do. I love “meeting” people there, love the community and the way everyone supports one another, and so on et cetera.