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The primary difference is that Facebook's social network remains closed while Twitter's is open. Twitter's friend system is asymmetric while Facebook's is symme
by mcav 18y ago
The primary difference is that Facebook's social network remains closed while Twitter's is open. Twitter's friend system is asymmetric while Facebook's is symmetric; I don't see how Facebook can really compete with Twitter except in friend-to-friend, reciprocal streams.
- ivankirigin 18y agoFacebook can compete by removing the symmetry. They seem to be moving in that direction.
- wensing 18y agoWhile they're at it they should introduce a batch-remove-friends button, too. http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2009/03/a-new-approach-to-facebook.html http://www.avc.com/a_vc/2009/03/a-new-approach-to-facebook.h...
- Dauntless 18y agoBut I don't want an asymmetric Facebook.
- ivankirigin 18y agoHave you ever hidden someone from your timeline? You already have an asymmetric Facebook, with too few hooks.
- snprbob86 18y agoThey have added an asymmetric relationship: "fans" rather than "friends". It's a matter of better surfacing it and making it available for individuals, not just "Pages" EDIT: I was right, there is a new "Subscribe to John" link on profiles today.
- ivankirigin 18y agoYeah, I noted the stress on pages too. I didn't know they applied it to people. "Fans" has way too much weight to it. "People you follow" and "followers" is actually a very straightforward description of the relationship on twitter. Facebook should change their terminology. This is a case of legacy hurting ideal design. They've had "fans" for some time.