ParisLemon » Facebook to be more like Twitter

Facebook to be more like Twitter

Just like I suggested a couple months ago, it looks like Facebook is leaning towards a redesign that makes User Status Updates a lot more prominent: as in the very top thing on your profile next to your face.

Though it’s been in place for a while, it seemed like many people weren’t using Facebook’s status feature…while at the same time a service which is essentially the same thing, Twitter, was taking off. This move to the top of the page should make status a lot more active no doubt, and Facebook already has in place the same updating via SMS that Twitter does (you simply text “i am ___________” to the number you are given). You can actually do pretty much anything on Facebook now via text-message.

Facebook is also working on a couple other interface changes which users can preview by joining the Facebook Sneak Preview group. Most of them seem to be little more then shuffling around links, but they also mark a move towards consolidation of all comment activity into one area which seems like a good idea.

This showing off of features before they are implemented in an interesting move, and definitely one borne out of Facebook’s desire not to repeat the User Feeds launch/fiasco of last year. They are encouraging conversation on the changes before they unveil anything. That is certainly what we call ‘playing it safe’.

It’ll be interesting to see how this new focus on Status Updates plays out against current Internet hotshot Twitter.

Post by MG Siegler on 03/20/07
Comments

Tamar Weinberg

Twitter has a different crowd (even though so many people liken it to Facebook statuses, myself included). Twitter does one thing well, whereas Facebook does many things well. Will this do much for Facebook? I doubt it. I'm not sure why they're even trying (but it's interesting to see that Twitter's success has an impact on a Facebook design decision).

Ilya Lichtenstein

Twitter does one thing, and it does that well. Facebook, with its attempts to be Digg(Shares), MySpace(Inbox/messages) and Twitter,Facebook is spreading itself far too thin. It will never overcome Twitter.

MG Siegler

I agree that Twitter's strength is in its simplicity and that it does its one thing well. But with all the recent outages and slow server problems that have plagued Twitter (due to its rapid growth), Facebook could have a window of opportunity to grab some new people on board their own SMS/IM/Web update platform that might have otherwise gone to Twitter...if Twitter doesn't soon resolve these issues.

Overall, though its tools as stand-alone products may not be able to compete head on with any of the services you mentioned Ilya, I think Facebook has put together a very nice package of complimentary social networking services to engage users. I disagree that it's spread itself too thin, I think it looks great compared to say MySpace. And that is likely just the kind of response they want as suitors come knocking again...