Even with Splenda, let’s face it, sugar-free cheesecake tastes horrible. But emailing in Facebook is just as delicious as regular email, and without any of the fat or calories of Outlook. Let me explain…
I hate emailing at work. I go over my limit on a regular basis, have to constantly delete to have space, archive stuff like some insane librarian, and get back to people quickly or feel irresponsible. Don’t get me started on how much clutter I get from being on group distribution lists and the hatred I feel toward anyone who hits Reply All. Email at work is painful and so primitive.
Contrast this experience with email in Facebook that has seemingly no limits on how much can be saved there. It’s only going on within Facebook so no one outside of my friends or people who find me on Facebook can contact me (no Spammers). I don’t archive…I thrive.
Twitter is the same, and I find that the limitations it places on how much I can write is a good thing. Don’t need to delete anything I tweet (but I can), and I can choose to get in touch with anyone anytime on Twitter unless they’re blocking me. The downside is that I can tweet stuff that’s out there for eternity so I have to be somewhat careful. If you @reply me, I can get back to you…or not. Same with DM. Love that casual feeling!
My sense is that email, like snail mail, is headed for the dustbin of e-history. Too many hassles involved to make it work. Outlook has yet to figure out a way to be pain-free. Gmail really sucks even with the limitless storage. And I think that the ease with which you can email/text with Facebook and Twitter is driving their usage. They are the equivalent of great-tasting, fat-free, sugar-free ice cream. So, consume them as you will. Do you find your own email usage slowing down thanks to social media? And can anyone stomach Outlook?
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Springpad
Buzz