A while back I found a Facebook app that automatically updates my Facebook status with the text from every tweet I send to Twitter. I have seen both positive and negative comments about this practice, but I’m curious how you feel about it. But, before you answer, let me give you some of my thoughts on the subject:
Pros of updating Facebook with Twitter content
- Automated. Once I installed the app, I haven’t had to do anything since.
- Facebook gets attention. I don’t have time throughout the day to log in and update Facebook. Especially while at work. But, it takes just a few seconds to fire off a tweet.
- I have several Facebook friends who are not on twitter. This way, they get to stay in the loop.
- When I receive a comment to a Facebook message (sent from Twitter), it reminds me to log in and be active on my Facebook account.
Cons of updating Facebook with Twitter content
- Duplicate content. For people who follow me on Twitter AND I’m friends with on Facebook, I could see how it could get annoying to see the same content twice.
- Random updates. Face it, Twitter is all about the minutia of day-to-day life. I’m not sure it’s the best use of a Facebook status update.
- Impersonal. If you think of each network as a complete and separate group of people, the question is, “Don’t they both deserve individual attention?”
So, what do you think, is automatically updating the Facebook status with Twitter updates a good or bad thing?
Two comments about ping.fm in 2 minutes. I guess I'll have to check it out.
Kupka's message about Twitter being boring thanks to those driving it is spot on. But, the thing is, I could sit and read Twitter all day and not be bored for a second. Sure, there's a lot of throw-away content (read: 99%), but I've used it to find links to absolutely amazing content on the web that may have gone unnoticed by me had I not been following along.
Thanks for the link, J.
I'm using the automatic update feature on Facebook, and I like it for the reasons you mention above. It's quick, and, as you mention, there are many Facebook users who don't use Twitter.
i was using this mode but most of tweets didn't make sense out of context so i killed it and i think it was a good move. instead, i pull in my friendfeed updates which include my twitter stuff. these end up on my facebook profile and newsfeed and think it is a much better model.
Simple solution: use ping.fm – then you can decide if you want to send the update to all your services, just twitter, just facebook, or a combo of each.
I personally don't mind duplicate content. I'm rarely on Twitter AND Facebook at the same time. So I see your update regardless of what my social network of choice is for the day. Plus, too many people are just on one or the other but not both, and you'd don't want to ignore them.
Regarding what content is best suited for what audience, that line is getting blurred. Here's a great post from our wise friend on that exact topic: http://kupka.ca/2008/10/27/twitter-is-the-message…
Megan, Thanks for the input!
Allan, FriendFeed may be an option. Thanks for that. I'll see if that would be a "more relevant" list of content for auto updating to Facebook.
I use ping.fm or hellotxt to post to twitter. It posts to twitter, identi.ca, facebook, myspace and a number of others simultaneously with me only typing the status message once.
I am in favor of it. Not everyone wants to participate in every social network, so as much as possible I want to duplicate my content across all of them so as to keep all my friends and family in the loop without forcing them to use a particular site. When I have time I am going to look into setting up one of those social network aggregation things to automate this more so I can set up profiles on more networks.
Thanks Les. I'll check out heloltxt as well!
Thanks Jackie. That was my thinking when I set it up to begin with.
Truly, I think it's all about personal preference. I've struggled with this topic, and ultimately decided that I wanted to maintain some separation between those social networks. There are a few contacts – mostly friends – that overlap in all networks, but I've corralled certain groups based on association. I did add the Twitter app to my FB Boxes, so if my FB contacts care to follow my tweets, they can simply view them on that tab.
Additionally, I don't think I'd enjoy managing responses to updates on multiple sites. Even if there's a tool to update all at once, it's too much, and I wouldn't want to complicate things for myself.
I gave up on the idea of trying to keep groups of friends on different networks. Over time, the lines blend too much and it became impossible to "watch my mouth" on one and not the other. But, I definitely know what you are saying.
LOL – I hear ya. Luckily my mom hasn't signed up for either Twitter or Facebook yet so I can talk shit all I want.
So I wasn't sure how to comment on auto status updates, however this news article today in the BBC, sums up the hazards of status updating of any kind –
A man murdered his estranged wife after becoming "enraged" when she changed her marital status on Facebook to "single" – http://tinyurl.com/dkz45s
Just something to think about
I'm not a fan mostly because I don't post stuff on twitter that I would post on facebook. I also just abhor the repetition of data. I. Facebook only shows a certain number of updates and seeing most of them taken up with tweets I've already read is somewhat annoying. None of this is earth shatteringly horrible but you asked for an opinion and by golly you're going to get it.
I just deactivated my Facebook account… they have an overly-broad rights grab in their terms of use and as a content creator I can't agree to those conditions. Might be something to keep in mind before posting too much content that you don't want to give away for any use for free.
I've been struggling with this issue as well over the past week or so. I finally decided this morning to no longer post my Tweets through Facebook (except for what shows up through Friendfeed) as it was just too darned confusin. The great thing about ping.fm is that you can make changes on the fly. Ping.fm in combination with utterli is fantastic. And don't forget posterous. Lots of good ways to accomplish things.
Thanks for the input Kenneth. I appreciate it. I'll be trying out ping.fm this week.
Thanks Aaron. I'll have to keep that in mind as well.
Todd, I appreciate the input. I'm leaning towards removing the automatic update as well. I'll just have to make a point of logging in to Facebook once a day to update my status with something witty.
I while back???c'mon…get a clue…take an english class….IDIOT!!
I know this kind of logic is slightly crazy, but i think that in general the more social networks you're in.. the more likely you to be sympathetic / understanding to someone repeating a bit.
So in general, the people that this would most likely annoy, are probably not using enough services to ever notice such things.