Facebook v. Twitter, Round #(Who Knows?)
I just signed up for my very own Facebook URL, which is exciting (Facebook wants me to think so, at least). Just what does this mean, exactly? It means that folks can now find my Facebook profile directly at facebook.com/1square. How cool is that? Moderately cool, I guess.
But what does it really mean? It really means that Facebook has taken yet another step into Twitter territory. First it was the redesigned Facebook home page (which is so Twitter-ish, though most Facebookers didn’t seem to notice). Now my page has its own URL and recognizable user name. I’m just waiting for trending topics and @replies.
Is it a bad thing? Not really. The “go back to the old home page” battlecry has been bandied about since the early days of Facebook, and the new URL thing is nice so long as I don’t have to look at people’s ridiculous nicknames (I seriously doubt your middle name is Ladiesman, Theone, or Youknowitsme). What’s more interesting is the continuing battle for Web 2.0 supremacy and the lengths different providers will go to keep you logged in.
Is Facebook falling? Is Twitter rising? Is there a bubble? The answer is probably “yes” on all accounts, though one rarely sees the bubble until it bursts.
Tune in all this week for some webspace ponderings. On deck: Should my church tweet? Where do I fit into the blogosphere? Where does Web 2.0 go from here?
Tyler
PS: This may be the most boring thing I’ve ever written. I hope this makes up for it:
