With so many social media platforms available to users, it's hard to determine which to use and what each platform does. Below is a comparison of some of the most popular social media sites. This post will outline what each does and does not do and for whom it is targeted.
Facebook and WeChat
Facebook and WeChat are both messaging networks/platforms. They are both similar in nature due to the massaging service they provide. WeChat allows its users to send messages, host audio and video calls and form group chats with up to 500 people (Zheng, 2022). It currently has 1.2 billion users with 73% of these being from China (Zheng, 2022). Facebook also allows for similar functions; however, it currently has around 2.9 billion users across the globe (Kemp, 2022). With other functions including posting, sharing, exploring, tagging and much more, Facebook is considered more of a social media platform than just a communication platform like WeChat. Both are used for different purposes; however, they share the same messaging element.
Pinterest and Instagram
Pinterest and Instagram are two very popular social media platforms used across the globe. Although these two sites are used for different purposes, they do share similarities and differences. In terms of similarities, the most obvious between the two socials is the use of imagery and visuals. On both social media platforms, a user has a profile that displays their content in the form of visuals. While the layout is different, the concept is the same. Instagram has a user profile that displays tiles of images that an individual has posted. Pinterest also displays users' images in the form of boards or pins (like the idea of tiles). Other users interact with these images by liking or pinning, sharing, and commenting across both platforms. However, the content shared on a user's profile on Pinterest, is not necessarily their own photos. This distinguishes a difference between the two platforms. While Instagram users can post photos that are not their own, the main idea is to post photos related to the users' interests, personal life, etc. Pinterest, however, is used as a 'search engine for images' rather than a social network (Canning, 2018). What a user can do within the app also highlights the differences. While Pinterest allows its users to create or save pins, attach pins to different boards on their personal profiles and communicate via Pinterest messaging, Instagram emphasises photo and video sharing through taking, editing, and publishing content that can be shared to either followers or not followers through a public account. While Instagram focuses more on sharing personalised content with followers, Pinterest is seen more as a photo library. However, both platforms have a strong emphasis on visuals which sets them apart from other social media platforms and creates similarities between the two.
Flickr and DeviantArt
Flickr and DeviantArt are two popular online photo and video sharing platforms. The biggest and most obvious similarity between the two is that they are both used for the purpose of sharing photo and video content. Flickr is commonly used for 'uploading, organising, and sharing photos and videos by users whose skills ranged from amateur to professional (Pinegar, 2022). Unlike Flickr, DeviantArt is used mostly by artists looking to exhibit their works within the art community ("DeviantArt", 2022). While both these platforms are used for the purpose of sharing work, Flickr deals with a broader skill set whereas DeviantArt is more specific to artists.
Vimeo and YouTube
Vimeo and YouTube are two video-sharing-specific platforms which allow users to post created content that can be viewed and shared by the public. YouTube content is created, uploaded, and viewed by anyone and is about anything. The content shared ranges from tutorials to vlogs, to funny videos. Vimeo, however, is a platform tailored more towards artists and filmmakers. The content shared on this site is often art-related and highly professional. This is the point of difference between the two, creating a different target audience.
Reference:
About DeviantArt | DeviantArt. DeviantArt. (2022). Retrieved 11 August 2022, from https://www.deviantart.com/about/.
Kemp, S. (2022). The Latest Facebook Statistics: Everything You Need to Know — DataReportal – Global Digital Insights. Retrieved 5 September 2022, from https://datareportal.com/essential-facebook-stats#:~:text=Facebook%20is%20one%20of%20the,)%3A%202.934%20billion%20(July%202022)&text=Number%20of%20people%20who%20use,)%3A%201.968%20billion%20(July%202022)
Pinegar, G. (2022). What is Flickr? An Intro Guide to Photo Sharing. Learn.g2.com. Retrieved 11 August 2022, from https://learn.g2.com/what-is-flickr.
What Is Vimeo? An Intro to the Video Sharing Platform. Lifewire. (2022). Retrieved 11 August 2022, from https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-vimeo-3486114.
Zheng, W. (2022). What is WeChat and what can it do?. Newseu.cgtn.com. Retrieved 11 August 2022, from https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2020-08-09/What-is-WeChat-and-what-can-it-do--SNepY1rgNG/index.html.
Image:
Apichodilok, 2017, person using phone, digital image, veiwed 8 August 2022, https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-using-phone-367273/under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0. Full terms at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0.
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