There are a lot of different social networks that the average user consumes. There is Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn etc.. I think it is fair to say that most people think Facebook has shaped the current culture of social media more than any other platform. I would like to make the case for another platform for one very strong #overlooked reason.
When Facebook started out everyone just had a wall to wall function for many years. Then, in 2009 they introduced the like button and friend feeds which made the platform much more social. There was still a major social aspect that could connect users missing that another platform had. It was not until 2013 when Facebook implemented the #Hashtag that was so popular on Twitter. The hashtag unites people and is what truly connects users around the world.
Think about it for a second. Without a #hashtag, the only people that would see your message are your friends, followers, and the share dividends. By adding a #hashtag to a post you have officially shared your message to a group of users with no relationship to you other than common interest. Some of which are broad and some can get as specific as a wedding hashtag.
The funny thing is twitter didn’t actually invent the Hashtag. The guy who did suggested it to Twitter and they initially rejected it. He never filed for a patent on the idea and Twitter eventually picked up the idea. Can you imagine how rich he would be if he would of patented it as an HTML activated device that allows social media users to sort by topic? Considering that Hashtags are used on every popular platform today, I think he would of done okay.
Obviously Facebook is the king and is very innovative. I just wanted Twitter to give them credit for their impact on social media since it is overlooked. #HaveAGreatDay