| |
Twitter
www.twitter.com |
Facebook
www.facebook.com |
Ning
www.ning.com |
Elgg
www.elgg.org |
| What is
it? |
Public micro-blogging tool for individuals |
Public, hosted social network for individuals to create user
accounts; they can then create groups if they wish |
Hosted social networking platform to create private social
networks; others can then create member accounts |
Social networking platform (hosted or self-hosted) to create
a private social network |
|
Free/open source |
Free |
Free |
No longer free
Price plans apply from July |
Free,
Open source
(licensed under GPL) |
| User
base |
Over 50 million users |
Over 250 million users |
Over 1 million groups
|
Unknown
number of networks based on Elgg (tens of thousands of
downloads in recent weeks) |
| Numbers
of networks/groups that can be created |
n/a |
Users can
create as many groups as they like within the Facebook
network |
Individuals can create up to 10 Ning networks (although each
network can have multiple sub-groups) |
Users can
create as many groups as they like within the network |
|
Who can join the network? |
Any one can join Twitter |
Any one can join Facebook |
Anyone can join Ning and set up a network. These are
either open or closed. Members can be approved first by
network creator. |
Network creator can enable self-registration or access
controls in to approve membership |
|
Who can create a (sub-)group (within a network |
n/a
Use GroupTweet
3rd party app |
Any member of Facebook |
Network creator can decide if anyone can create a sub-group
or if groups need to be approved |
Anyone in the network can create a group (group
approval can be implemented if required) |
| Who can
join a group |
Groups can
be set up to be open (anyone can join) or closed invited
only) in which case joining determined by group owner, or
secret group (not displayed in |
Groups can
be public (anyone can join) or private (moderated
membership) |
Groups can
either be open (anyone can join) or closed (invited only) in
which case joining determined by group owner |
|
Delete/ban from network/group |
Twitter can ban a member.
|
Facebook can ban member. Group owner can block members |
Network creator can ban member from network; Group owner can
ban member from group |
Network owner can delete member from network, and remove
member from group |
| Group
customisation |
n/a |
Limited in
terms of functionality; same look and feel as Facebook |
Good in
terms of functionality and look and
feel (very visual) |
Completely customisable in terms of functionality and look
and feel |
|
FUNCTIONALITY |
| User
profile page |
Yes |
Yes |
1 profile page per network (so if a user belongs to multiple
Ning networks, this means multiple profile pages) |
Yes |
|
Personalisation of profile page |
Personalisation via backgrounds and colour schemes |
Personalisation via applications but not of themes |
Personalisation via apps, and of theme can be allowed by
network creator |
Can be
supported by network owner |
| Social
networking |
Across
Twitter |
Across
Facebook |
Within
networks, but can have visibility of contacts across
networks |
Across
the network |
|
Internal messaging |
Direct
Messaging |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Conversations/
Discussions |
@replies
target messages to individuals |
In the
individual groups |
In the
network's central Discussion Forum (and in any sub-groups if
set up.
This can be confusing to some users |
Only in
the groups
|
| Online
chat |
No
Use 3rd party chat |
Yes
|
Can be
enabled |
Can be
enabled |
| Social
bookmarking |
No |
Private
bookmarks, via Links. Group bookmarks via Links |
No |
Can store
personal bookmarks or share with others |
|
Blogging |
No |
No personal blogging although with FB app you can post and
share your content across multiple platforms |
Personal
blogging (on profile page) |
Personal and group (multi-author) blogging |
| RSS
feeds |
No |
Via FB app |
Site feeds
can be set up by network creator; members can set up feed(s)
in widgets on profile page |
Feeds can
be saved and viewed individually or within site feeds |
| File
uploading and sharing |
Via 3rd party apps |
Photos and
videos can be uploaded in personal area as well as group
areas (where enabled by group owner) |
Videos can
be uploaded where enabled by network owner.
Other files can be uploaded by users into postings etc but
can't be deleted |
Files (of all types) can be uploaded in a personal space as
well as in a group space. |
| Create
web pages |
No |
No |
Network
creator and admin can create pages |
All members can create web pages |
| Wiki
pages (for collaboration) |
No |
No |
No |
All members can create their own wikis for personal or group
use |
|
Integration |
Facebook status can be fed to twitter |
Twitter
feed can be incorporated into status via FB app |
No,
although Twitter Tracker widget can be added to profile page |
Yes, via
the wire, can send to Twitter account |
| Events |
No |
Yes. Users
can set up events and manage |
Can be
enabled by network owner and determined who can add events |
Can be
enabled by network owner for admin and group owners |
| 3rd
party applications |
Huge range |
Huge
range |
Goodly
number |
3rd
party plugins available |
OTHER
FEATURES |
| User
privacy permissions |
Members can protect their updates |
Members can set privacy permissions across types of
resources but not for specific resources. |
Members can set privacy permissions across types of
resources but not for specific resources. |
Every member has control over access permission- for
every resource they create as well as for personal data. |
| User
notification control |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Mobile
notifications |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Own
domain name |
No |
No |
Yes as a
premium service |
Yes |
| Age
restrictions |
No one younger than 13 can join Twitter |
No one younger than 13 can join Facebook |
No one younger than 13 can join a Ning community |
Networks can be set up for users of all ages |
|
Ads on site |
No |
Yes |
Remove
default (and add own) as a premium service |
As desired |
|
Ease of set up |
Very easy |
Easy |
Easy
(although some users might require)
help |
More complex
But help is at hand!
Our Elgg
Services |
|
Ease of use |
Very easy |
Easy |
Easy
(although some users might require) help |
More complex, might require support to ensure that all the
functionality is appreciated
But help is at hand!
Our Elgg
Services |
|
Sign in
|
One login via Twitter |
One login via Facebook |
One
central login via Ning OR login to individual networks of
which you are a a creator/ member |
One login via the network (single sign-on with other systems
could be set up) |
| Terms
of use/Privacy |
"Any information that you provide to Twitter is subject to
our
Privacy Policy
... You understand that ... you consent to the collection
and use (as set forth in the Privacy Policy) of this
information, including the transfer of this information to
the United States and/or other countries for storage,
processing and use by Twitter." |
"By using Facebook,
you are consenting to have your personal data transferred to
and processed in the United States" and "We may provide
information to service providers to help us bring you the
services we offer." |
"In its operation of the Ning Platform, and its provision of
its services to Network Creators and Third Party Application
Developers, Ning collects, uses, and retains all
information, including Personal Information and Network
Member Data, that you disclose to Network Creators in your
use of Networks." |
Creators of a network determine terms of use and privacy
policies; data is not controlled, owned or managed by Elgg. |
|
SUMMARY |
| MOST
SUITABLE FOR |
Individuals for their own personal use to connect
with others across the large Twitter membership - for
social networking
|
Individuals
for their own personal use to connect with others, to
create/join personal groups as well as groups across the
large FB membership base - primarily for social
networking and discussion` |
Individuals/ Organisations that want to create one main
network (with a number of sub-groups) for users who have a
personal choice whether they wish to join or not - primarily
for
social
networking and discussion |
Large groups/ Organisations
(businesses/ education) with a need for a private,
organisation-only membership for social networking or
with groups
for social learning and/or collaborative working
|
FOR YOU
if you want/require |
Personal networking
Access to huge user membership base for networking
Ease of set up and use
Huge range of 3rd party applications provides
extra functionality |
Personal networking
Access to huge user membership base for networking
Ease of use
Large range of 3rd party applications provides extra
functionality |
Ease of set up and use
Visually attractive look and feel
Networking for a well-defined group of people
|
Social-media rich (integrated) platform
Functionality for collaboration
Fine control of privacy permissions
Complete customisation of functionality and look and feel
Secure and private personal and/or organisational data
A platform without trivial content |
NOT FOR YOU
if you want/require |
 Functionality for collaborative work
Secure and private personal and/or organisational data
Granular privacy permissions
|
Functionality for collaborative
work
Secure and private personal and/or
organisational data
Granular privacy permissions |
Free network
Functionality for collaborative work
Secure and private personal and/or organisational data
Granular privacy permissions
One profile page across multiple networks |
One-click set-up
- although
Elgg.com provides a hosting solution (for a monthly fee) |
| EXAMPLES |
@c4lpt |
C4LPT Fan Page |
Workplace
Learning 2.0 |
c4lpt.NET |
