UI Overhaul Face-off: Twitter vs. Facebook

These days, Facebook and Twitter look like new chefs blushing in red as they await the reactions of their users after serving their most recent dishes, at least in terms of the services they offer in the techlandia. Their dishes, are not literally food, but the two giant's most recent attempts at revising the user interface (UI) of their websites, which most of their official statements declare are designed to give the best user experience to their users, in terms of feel and ease of use. Again.

But which of the two came up with the better food, er... UI or user interface revamp?

To the uninitiated, UI or user interface refers to the design or arrangement of elements in a particular space (i.e., web space) with which an online user may interact and "how an application program or a Web site invites interaction and responds to it." In layman's term, UI is the layout or arrangement of elements in a webpage.

First in line is Facebook, which introduced its much-discussed and now most debated new profile page called Timeline. This UI overhaul is an attempt to give users bigger view of what else but - timeline or history of all data that a user indicated on his online space via the Facebook universe. Many complained, including me, that the new UI looks crammed, chaotic and set to give the most dizzying experience and headache to everyone for tiring the eyes when you scroll left and right, up and down.

All these are made at the expense of seeing your page that sports the bigger you in terms of bigger pictures, and bigger status fonts, and more. You may check my Facebook Timelined page to see how this whole Timeline works.

Twitter, the popular micro-blogging website meanwhile, is also touted to release its major overhaul of its interface soon.

It is a revamp with no fancy name or identifier to brand this change. The amazing thing here is how the new Twitter UI was simplified (not to complicate because sometimes some simplifications do), but to give a better experience.  The four elements of the new interface are Home, Connect, Discover and Me. The arrangement of the elements are not eye-straining and the links, including how the elements would appear when clicked, are easy to learn.

Here is an online video from Twitter to check what they are rolling out soon:

Based on most online discussions and Facebook comments about these two recent developments, Twitter appears to be the runaway winner.

On my scorecard: its 93% for Twitter. 83% for Facebook.

Survey Says Facebook Rules in the Philippines! Hooray!? or Boo!?

I don't know what to feel now that 24/7 Wall St concluded that the Philippines is the country to beat in terms of the dominance of Facebook in the online landscape, even topping the home of the social networking site itself: the U.S.  Today, there are 600 million Facebook members worldwide.

In the said report, the Philippines is joined by Israel, Turkey, Chile and Argentina as the top five nations where Facebook has whopping dominance of the online market.  Malaysia, Indonesia, Columbia, Peru and Venezuela round up the next five.
Here are the exact words from the article

1. Philippines
> Facebook: 93.9%
> Twitter: 16.1%
> LinkedIn: 1.9%
> Internet Use: 29.7%

Social network penetration is incredibly high in the Philippines, reaching 95%.  Facebook is the country’s most popular website, more so than Google, and has a penetration rate of 93.9%.  The Philippines is also the eighth most popular country for Twitter use on a global scale, with a penetration rate of 16.1%.  The popularity of photo sharing has increased by 46% in the country in one year, largely due to Facebook.  Social networking is so popular among Filipinos, the country has been nicknamed “The Social Networking Capital of the World.”

What does this mean? Here are some thoughts:

• TV commercials. TV being the dominant media in the country is one platform where the social networking site is massively promoted. Everywhere you see spread out like eagle's wings these commercials that carry the Facebook Fan pages of brands. You usually see these commercials at prime time where shows like telenovelas, koreanovelas, game shows, and more are being shown.  Hence, Facebook is being promoted free and Mark Zucherberg has a lot to thank the country's businessmen for having these ads without having to pay Philippine television networks a single cent.

• Filipinos are fond of "lists".  We are a curious race.  Last time, we are racing to set a record with the most number of circumcised teens in the world.  Then once upon a time, the Philippines was reportedly the third largest nation with the most number of English-speaking people, then the "Texting Capital of the World," and am not a bit surprised if we will again top this one. But yes we did! Another title? Yes, "The Social Networking Capital of the World." Did we ask for this? Definitely not, but it appears very natural for us Filipinos. Isn't it that the once glorious Friendster.com was the king of the internet landscape in the country here? And now that Facebook or FB is the king, we are quick to jump ship.  And it also looks like it is embedded in us to look for something that will make our country stand out among the rest. And even not economically perhaps, we can at least become the first to beat the U.S. and the G8.

• Cheap Internet Cafe Rates. For one peso, one can use the Internet and surf Facebook for as little as one minute! I am not kidding, this only happens in the Philippines. What can one do with one (1) minute? Just check notifications and generously spread "Likes," perhaps?  

• Consumption of time. Some would rather open Facebook and shout to the world that someone has completed the folding of 1,000 pieces of baby wipes in 10 seconds, mopped the lobby, post photos that charted the person's whole lifespan on earth, entered a mental hospital and shook hands with a parrot. These are considered more productive way of spending one's time than the more important things like devoting full eight hours to work, helping a son or daughter do assignments, and visiting charities and volunteering for causes.

• Narcissism. Sadly, could this also be telling us how much we love ourselves more than the others? There are already numerous studies about why social networking sites are growing more and more popular among children and adults, while some knows how to use the site for good, others don't. And others never will.

• And more.

Facebook is obviously here to stay. It will continue to grow or something new will emerge along the way. But what will be the same is that Filipinos will surely be among the first to appreciate these things before any nation in the world. We have proofs to back this up.

However, it is just my hope that somewhere along the way we would pick up the good over the bad: the use of technology wisely and intelligently not just for the self but for others.

The "You Can Be What You Want To Be" Culture

We've already heard and read lot about the many side effects of Facebook and other social networking sites here here here.  And this was lucidly illuminated in Jean Twenge's book, Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled — and More Miserable Than Ever Before. In the said book, Twenge predicted that a new global community called "GenMe" or "Generation Me" is giving birth to individuals who are self-centered or too obsessed with appearance and material things. In effect, the focus is too much directed on the self.

Twenge, who is Associate Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University, gives us hints how to identify these individuals and what their attitudes are like. With the me becoming the priority over the others, it is not surprising to find them saying - “As long as I believe in myself, I really do not care what others think.” Twenge has also earned degrees from the Universities of Chicago (B.A. and M.A.) and Michigan (Ph.D.).

As the whole book explains, the over-emphasis on the self than family members, friends, peers, colleagues, and random people have so many grave repercussions. There is shift in beliefs and modes in obeying authorities at work, school and homes. Even the act of expressing respect for other people is disregarded by GenMe culture.  These types of people have also grew tired of attending to religious practices. All these negative attributes, according to Twenge, stemmed from the key message that these new GenMe individuals profess: “You can be anything you want to be."

The chapter titles should be sufficient enough in giving what readers should expect from reading the book:

1. You Don’t Need Their Approval: The Decline of Social Rules
2. An Army of One: Me
3. You Can Be Anything You Want to Be
4. The Age of Anxiety (and Depression, and Loneliness): Generation Stressed
5. Yeah, Right: The Belief That There’s No Point in Trying
6. Sex: Generation Prude Meets Generation Crude
7. The Equality Revolution: Minorities, Women, and Gays and Lesbians
8. Apply Our Knowledge: The Future of Business and the Future of the Young

It is also the GenMe culture that is sometimes to blame for the continued rise of the cases of depression, alienation, scholastic and professional stress, and other increased self-esteem symptoms. 




The World Is Obsessed With Facebook from Alex Trimpe on Vimeo.

Though what is certain is that the figures about the use of Facebook may not dip a bit, it was not yet clear how much this would impact our society in general. Because with the prevalence of GenMe culture, people who would become too obsessed with the self or narcissists, and only thinks of the self as superior might increase in numbers. Thus, we only can expect the worst in the future.

Unless these new social beings of GenMe culture would find self-control as a virtue, we should expect less for real change to blossom.  Otherwise, the opposite is likely to happen: crime rates surging, suicide cases caused by depression, alienation and stress mounting, and more of the like.

These are alarming scenarios if only solutions are available this instant.  Only with institutional actions and everyone getting involved matched with political will, however, we can see changes and success. Though there may be groups now thinking about this impending social meltdown, their tribes need to increase and become more vocal in asserting their sentiments. 

Now, let's pause and ask ourselves: Are we over-sharing enough? Are we Facebook obsessed? Are we turning into GenMe creatures?

Now think. Think of good reasons if we are not. Think how much better the world would become if we are thinking before posting.