Social networking and micro blogging are trends that have been flashing through our eyes as we visit our most visited sites, such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. According to an article on Educause.com called, “7 Things You Should Know About Microblogging”, ELI Publications defines micro blogging as “the practice of posting small pieces of digital content online—which could be text, pictures, links, short videos, or other media—on the Internet”. In other words, Micro blogging is a way of blogging in with less content than original blogs. While communication is key in our everyday lives, our current generation has used both social networking and micro blogging as outlets to share their thoughts, experiences, and images.
Twitter has been around since 2006 providing an online social networking service and micro blogging service. Twitter is a site that allows its users to send text-based messages, edit their profiles, and send pictures. It’s almost like updating your Facebook status throughout the day except with Twitter; you are limited to 140 characters per tweet enhancing people’s creativity to send more with less. Twitter allows their users to integrate their tweets with Facebook, linking tweets to the both accounts for a simple status update and a tweet all at once. While Twitter allows its users to tweet text, images, links and other media, Instagram is similar, yet different.
Instagram was launched in 2010, enabling its users to capture, filter, and share photos on other integrated forms of media like Facebook. Yes, Instagram is still young but is rapidly enhancing its services. Originally Instagram was just a mobile application, now it’s a site that can be visited with or without using a mobile device. Guardian News and Media released an article called; “Instagram and Twitter wrestle as social network war reaches new level”, which speaks on the reason as to why Instagram cut its integration off from Twitter. According to the article, “Twitter benefits from having content from other media-generating services - such as Instagram. In September, the AllThingsD site reported that user engagement from Twitter to Instagram pictures was greater than within Instagram itself”. Which means that if Instagram continued integrating with Twitter, it wouldn’t be where it is today. Now, Instagram has a new owner; Facebook. Instagram is independent from micro blogging sites such as Twitter and is doing well in having over 500 million user agreements. Below are some questions I would like for you to think about for a discussion.
For all those who use both Instagram and Twitter, do you think that Instagram can potentially be the new twitter?
How much different is Instagram from Twitter, and do you agree with the cut off of integration with Twitter?
Will twitter and Instagram join forces? Will we be Instatweeting?
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I enjoyed reading your post. I'm not an instagram person though so don't have much feedback to give. They both sort of seem like the same thing to me... Other than the photo filters. Which I don't like much anyways.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nik! I am an IGer as they say, but there are differences betwen Instagram and Twitter. Yes, Twitter allows you to post photos but not with the filtering options that Instagram offers. If you are a photographer than I can agree as to why Instagram is not an app that you actually would want. I guess Instagram is more of an app for people who wish they were photographers!
DeleteOr folks that would rather just carry around a phone instead of pounds of photography equipment...
DeleteTwitter is still beyond one of the most visited sites and there are more users on Twitter than Instagram, but I believe with more time Instagram can be among one of the most visited or used apps.
ReplyDeleteI'm a super avid Instagram userI'm an avid Instagram user; when I’m not posting pictures I’m looking at other people’s pics, profiles, doing searches, and more. Instagram can’t be the new Twitter, but I believe Twitter can turn into the new Instagram. With Twitter, you can capture a picture and upload it already; adding features where users can add filters to their pics would be more than attractive to the Instagram population. The way I first found out about the end of integration between Twitter and Instagram was only a week ago when I clicked to expand a picture and it wouldn’t let me. Though upset, I understood why Twitter and Instagram cut their ties – competition is competition. With Facebook being the powerhouse of all social media sites, I think it is unlikely that Twitter and Instagram will join forces. Facebook now owns Instagram, so Twitter would be risking relations with Facebook and they would be spending a lot of money to purchase Instagram.
ReplyDeleteKara you bring up a great point. Twitter can be the next Instagram, but I honestly think that the power that FB and Instagram have, will prevent Twitter from utilizing their ideas like image filtering.
ReplyDeleteI am a huge Instagram fan- but I don't think that it will be the new twitter. There are going to be many twitter users that will not become Instagram users because they don't have to be used for the same purpose. Instagram can only be used for pictures and hashtags, but a user does not need to take a picture to make a comment on twitter. However, when I started using instagram, I hardly check my twitter. I don't believe they are used for the same purpose, but I just enjoy using instagram more. I doubt that instagram and twitter will ever join forces because you can already tweet your instagram by "sharing" your picture.
ReplyDeleteInstagram is expanding to desktops as well. http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/instagram-expands-to-desktops-this-week-in-social-media/
ReplyDelete