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Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies on Facebook
Last updated: 09 March 2010
A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO SOCIAL LEARNING
Comparison of Twitter, Facebook, Ning and ElggIf you are looking to build a FREE social network, social learning space or collaborative group for your students or employees,
here is a comparison of (what we perceive to be) the strengths and weaknesses of the three free main platforms: Facebook, Ning and Elgg.
www.twitter.com
www.facebook.comNing
www.ning.comElgg
www.elgg.orgWhat 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 Free 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 appAny 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 chatYes 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 and discussion 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 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/requirePersonal networking
NOT FOR YOU
if you want/requireFunctionality for collaborative work
EXAMPLES
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