So Twitter has been quite active recently. It�s what�s to be expected from a network of Twitter�s calibre; as a recently listed company they have quietly introduced a new profile pagedesign to a limited amount of users (a complement to an earlier redesign). As one of the top ten biggest social networks, it was only a matter of time before the little blue bird would make it into the stock exchange, thus constant updates are to be considered a necessity.
The new design has however been far too familiar for some users, as it�s quite similar to updates as seen on Facebook and/or Google+. Changes include:
- A larger profile photo and a wider header photo;
- Tweets are no longer arranged vertically, but scattered in a way resembling a news feed;
- A design focusing a lot more on images and video in general;
One might wonder where this is heading. Becoming more image-oriented is one way of taking on competitors like Instagram (and owner Facebook) head on, while changes to the timeline could be a way of making it more compatible with sponsored tweets. Ultimately; these recent updates has made Twitter a significantly competitive communication platform for marketing.
At the time of writing, it�s not sure whether or not all changes will be applicable, but it gets you thinking about the future of social media (in terms of this becoming generic interface) and its impact on the user experience. Competing social networks are moving towards similar end results � they want to connect people, they want users to share quality content, they want ad revenue and they want to be the social network user�s preference over their competitors. Piece of cake?
There are similar problems solved with similar solutions. Twitter started out allowing # and @ in posts, Facebook then followed suit as it�s a great way of connecting users with one another (consumer and brands). If an image oriented interface gives Twitter the opportunity to compete with Instagram, then that might be just what they needed to enhance the network�s functionality. If a profile page design works more effectively than others, then why change a winning concept?
Video is currently receiving a double golden thumbs up award for being the best communication medium, predicted to make out 50% of the total online consumption in 2014 and 69% in 2017 (according to a Cisco study cited by The Guardian). This would have us expect social networks to adapt accordingly. Will this result in a number of social media platforms looking pretty much the same? And how will they evolve from there? Either they fall back on their respective niches, or they merge into some kind of super network. We can make great things happen if we collaborate, or is that being overly optimistic?
What we see is the evolution of social media – the survival of the fittest. In China, social network RenRen took a swing at competitor Kaixin by buying the kaixin.com URL and use it in quite an unethical way. You�d like to think that this is an exception, but in the future we could be watching the ultimate showdown of the social media networks � a dirty fight to the death. Because at the end of the day, users don�t really care about the company providing the service or product. They want solutions to THEIR problems, and the one who provides these solutions will be the last one standing.
Twitter�s updates may have it looking more like its bigger competitors, but this is all part of evolution. In the end, it�s not about who has the sharpest teeth, it�s about who produces the best ideas � the best results.
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Image courtesy: dribbble.com, crave.cnet.co.uk