Facebook you big bully!
Published - Friday, 11 September, 2009That is likely to be the thoughts of those at Twitter’s HQ today following Facebook’s announcement that it is to introduce a similar system to Twitter’s @ mentions in status updates.
The @ mention idea is pretty simple really. For those of you who are not familiar with Twitter, it was introduced by the social networking and micro-blogging system as a way of letting people know when you are talking about them in status updates. So for example, if I wanted to let Peter Andre know that I was sat at home watching his (ridiculous) reality TV show, I’d tweet something like ‘Can’t believe @MrPeterAndre was ever in love with that crazy woman’ and Peter (if he actually ever checks his Twitter personally) would see that I have spoken about him.
Facebook status updates will include a drop down menu of relevant Facebook friends so the published line will now read ‘Can’t believe Mr Peter Andre was ever in love with that crazy woman’. The name will become hyperlinked, and I presume, the recipient will receive a notification letting them know they have been spoken of – although Facebook hasn’t confirmed this part as far as I know.
@ mentions have played a massive part in making Twitter what it is today. Facebook however, is still leagues ahead in popularity, so whilst in that position, why not take ideas that work from others if you can get away with it. Pretty sure Twitter will be cursing Facebook after this news, it really is game on for them. However if I was in the Twitter hot seat, I’d be thinking of selling up pretty quick if Facebook continue to behave this way!
Over and out.
@AdamRhodes ; – )
Tags: consumer technology, facebook, twitter
September 11th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
New blog post: Facebook you big bully! http://bit.ly/t7Yd1
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
September 11th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
I believe Twitter is a rather pathetic yet almost addictive way for mere celebrities to keep up with their image. If people stopped caring so much about what others thought of them then Twitter would never have become what it is today.
Facebook on the other hand allows old friends to keep in touch in a quick, convienient way, yet also allows new friendships to occur. Therefore I agree with Adam that Twitter should think about getting gone before Facebook wins the race!!