When I get online, I do so for the purpose of learning something, finding new information or being challenged to think. This means I rarely find Facebook compelling. Sounds harsh I know…but my idea of personal connection goes far beyond a simple status update or messaging session. This is not to say it doesn’t have value or even moments of helpfulness. However, generally speaking I find it incapable of fulfilling its purpose on almost every level.

Twitter has another appeal altogether. Follow the right people and receive an endless supply of quality links, quotes and ideas. The absence of need for personal relationship allows maximum potential for interaction on niche topics or industries. Those who fail to publish interesting items on a regular basis can be unfollowed – not because they are no longer your friend, but because they did not produce worthy content.

Before I go further, I should be quick to acknowledge there are many more relationship-oriented web users than content-consumers like myself. That majority will feel very differently about the two services. They will point me to Facebook pages to meet my informational requirements and ask that I interact more and give the format a chance. There is merit in both of those suggestions and I do indeed see their point. Still, I doubt I will ever find an appreciation for most of the activity on Facebook.

I must insist that those who sit down at their computers much like they would open their morning newspaper or monthly periodical will find Twitter far more appealing. Even in its bite-sized chunks, the format lends itself to ongoing learning and discussion.

In the end it depends on what your purpose is for being online. Do you want to publish and consume content or build and maintain relationships? I find myself very much in the former camp and will therefore remain a loyal Twitter user, while rarely accessing or using Facebook.