Mr. Zuckerberg,
When I use a social media network, I use it for a specific reason. Each one offers me distinct benefits and features.
Until a few weeks ago, I had no gripes with Facebook at all. And then I read a Wall Street Journal report claiming that you’re planning on introducing the hashtag on your network. My opinion on this idea can be summed up in just two letters: NO!
When I use a social media network, I use it for a specific reason. Each one offers me distinct benefits and features.
- Foursquare is great for getting deals at places.
- Instagram is great for “creeping” on your friends.
- Twitter is great for quickly spitting out whatever pops into your head.
Until a few weeks ago, I had no gripes with Facebook at all. And then I read a Wall Street Journal report claiming that you’re planning on introducing the hashtag on your network. My opinion on this idea can be summed up in just two letters: NO!
I completely understand your rationale behind using the symbol, and I applaud your efforts to make your network more users friendly. Having the ability to group conversations together would be a helpful feature. However, I don’t think the hashtag is the right way to go about it.
I let you slide with using the @ symbol a few years back because I thought it was necessary to be able to tag people in a status. But this is taking it to far. The hashtag is an iconic symbol of Twitter, just as the thumbs up is iconic to liking something on Facebook. I bet it’d feel like a kick in the stomach if Twitter started using a like button instead of the “favorite star.” By using the hashtag, you’re basically proclaiming that Twitter does something better than you, and I’m sure you don’t want people thinking that.
So please Mr. Zuckerberg, don’t use the hashtag. I love the idea of being able to group conservations. But figure out a different way to do it. There’s a whole row of symbols on the keyboard. Use the dollar sign, percent symbol, or asterisk. Or create a button that users would click when they want to group something. Be creative. Be different. Start a new trend in social media. Just leave the hashtag for Twitter.
Respectfully yours,
Originality Fan
I let you slide with using the @ symbol a few years back because I thought it was necessary to be able to tag people in a status. But this is taking it to far. The hashtag is an iconic symbol of Twitter, just as the thumbs up is iconic to liking something on Facebook. I bet it’d feel like a kick in the stomach if Twitter started using a like button instead of the “favorite star.” By using the hashtag, you’re basically proclaiming that Twitter does something better than you, and I’m sure you don’t want people thinking that.
So please Mr. Zuckerberg, don’t use the hashtag. I love the idea of being able to group conservations. But figure out a different way to do it. There’s a whole row of symbols on the keyboard. Use the dollar sign, percent symbol, or asterisk. Or create a button that users would click when they want to group something. Be creative. Be different. Start a new trend in social media. Just leave the hashtag for Twitter.
Respectfully yours,
Originality Fan
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