Instagram Versus Twitter

Instagram is an online social network that allows users to take pictures, apply digital filters to photos, and share photos on other social networks such as Twitter and Facebook. However, in December 2012, Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, stopped supporting the Twitter Cards application. This means that Instagram photos can no longer appear on Twitter, but only a link can be shown to direct users to Instagram photos. This fact has aroused a lot of controversies among users as they debate about which social network to opt for.

Instagram aims at having their users frequent Twitter less. This means that Twitter will have less clients with every photo being switched to Instagram (Cater, 2012). Twitter has countered Instagram’s tactics by acquiring a number of websites and introducing new elegant features that are focused on photo-sharing. Twitter has introduced a new automated photo-filtering provision which has eight effects. These effects include vignette, warm, cool, vintage, black and white, cinematic, happy, and gritty. However, Instagram boasts more than double the amount of filters which Twitter possess for photo-sharing: Instagram’s filters number 18. The effects include Amaro, Hudson, X-Pro II, Rise Sierra, Willow, Valencia Lo-fi, Toaster, Earlybird Brannan, Walden, Inkwell Hefe, Nashville, 1977, and Kelvin (Biddle, 2012).

Twitter has a photo-editing feature which allows users to scale, move, and crop their photos. The minimal features limit the amount of editing that can be performed on photos. On the other hand, Instagram allows users to make rotations on an image, add a border, and make one point in focus and the rest out of focus. There is an extra feature to turn contrast up with an on-and-off switch. Instagram’s additional tools have lured more clients to switch from Twitter and embrace Instagram. This is due to people naturally being attracted to the platform which offers better features and services (Cater, 2012).

Twitter’s interface allows users to view the photo filters which are applied to the same image in a grid. This helps a user to decide the best choice for a specific photo. The interface also aids a user to view the photos one-by-one in a slide show style. However, there is no option on the screen to direct users to an exterior site where they can share their photos. This means that the photos can only be viewed on Twitter. On the contrary, Instagram only allows its users to view each effect one at a time. This is a formidable challenge, as clients have to remember which of the filters impressed them the most without the option of having a side-by-side comparison. However, Instagram offers an excellent platform for sharing photos with multiple social networks (Simpkins, 2012).

It is evident that Twitter is finally having Instagram as its competitor in the social network arena. Instagram has 18 filters as compared to Twitter’s 8 filters. Instagram possesses additional tools and features as compared with Twitter. These tools assist users to edit photos according to their needed adjustments. Instagram allows users to share photos with multiple social networks. This is an added advantage, since Twitter only allows clients to post photos only on the site itself. All these factors make Instagram more popular, even though it still has fewer users as compared to Twitter.

References

Biddle, S. (2012). “Twitter vs. Instagram: Ultimate filter battle royale.” Gizmodo.
Cater, S. (2012). “Instagram vs. Twitter: Time for users to pick sides.” The Drum.
Simpkins, T. (2012). “Instagram vs. Twitter: Photos, filters and the fight for followers.” Work at Play.