Twitter’s key competitors in the social media and communication industry include competitors from various categories such as social networking platforms, microblogging platforms, messaging apps, news aggregation platforms, live streaming platforms, professional networking platforms, and local social networks.
A social media giant known for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus. Facebook competes with Twitter in the social media and online communication market.
Facebook offers a range of social media platforms and competes with Twitter in the social media and online communication segments.
Both compete in the social media and online communication market, offering platforms for users to share updates and engage with others.
Facebook’s diverse portfolio of social media platforms.
Instagram
A photo and video-sharing social media platform that is owned by Facebook. Instagram competes with Twitter in the visual content and social networking space.
Instagram is a visual social media platform and competes with Twitter in the visual content and social networking segments.
Both compete in the social networking and visual content sharing market, with Instagram’s focus on visual storytelling through images and videos.
Instagram’s emphasis on visual content and stories.
LinkedIn
A professional networking platform for business and career-related connections. LinkedIn competes with Twitter in the professional networking and online business communication market.
LinkedIn is a professional networking platform, competing with Twitter in the professional networking and business communication segments.
Both compete in the professional networking and business communication market, with LinkedIn’s focus on career-related connections and content.
LinkedIn’s emphasis on professional networking and job-related content.
Snapchat
A multimedia messaging app known for its ephemeral photo and video-sharing features. Snapchat competes with Twitter in the multimedia messaging and visual communication market.
Snapchat offers multimedia messaging and competes with Twitter in the multimedia messaging and visual communication segments.
Both compete in the multimedia messaging and visual communication market, with Snapchat’s focus on ephemeral and interactive content.
Snapchat’s emphasis on ephemeral visual communication.
TikTok
A short-form video-sharing app known for its viral video content. TikTok competes with Twitter in the short-form video and user-generated content market.
TikTok is a short-form video platform and competes with Twitter in the short-form video and user-generated content segments.
Both compete in the short-form video and user-generated content market, with TikTok’s focus on viral and creative video content.
TikTok’s emphasis on short video creativity and trends.
Reddit
A social media platform known for its discussion forums and user-generated content. Reddit competes with Twitter in the online discussion and content sharing market.
Reddit offers discussion forums and competes with Twitter in the online discussion and content sharing segments.
Both compete in the online discussion and user-generated content market, with Reddit’s focus on topic-based communities and discussions.
Reddit’s emphasis on community-driven content and discussions.
Tumblr
A microblogging and social networking platform known for its multimedia content and blogs. Tumblr competes with Twitter in the microblogging and creative content market.
Tumblr is a microblogging platform and competes with Twitter in the microblogging and creative content segments.
Both compete in the microblogging and creative content market, with Tumblr’s focus on multimedia content and blogging.
Tumblr’s emphasis on creative expression through multimedia.
Pinterest
A visual discovery and bookmarking platform known for its boards and image sharing. Pinterest competes with Twitter in the visual content discovery and social bookmarking market.
Pinterest is a visual discovery platform and competes with Twitter in the visual content discovery and social bookmarking segments.
Both compete in the visual content discovery and social bookmarking market, with Pinterest’s focus on organizing and sharing visual inspiration.
Pinterest’s emphasis on visual discovery and organization.
Mastodon
An open-source social media platform that offers decentralized microblogging and communication. Mastodon competes with Twitter in the decentralized and open-source social media market.
Mastodon is an open-source microblogging platform, competing with Twitter in the decentralized and open-source social media segments.
Both compete in the decentralized and open-source social media market, with Mastodon’s focus on user control and decentralization.
Mastodon’s emphasis on decentralization and user autonomy.
Gab
Gab is a social media platform that emphasizes free speech and limited content moderation. Gab competes with Twitter in the free speech and alternative social media market.
Gab is a social media platform known for its stance on free speech and competes with Twitter in the free speech and alternative social media segments.
Both compete in the free speech and alternative social media market, with Gab’s focus on minimal content moderation.
Gab’s emphasis on free speech and limited moderation.
Social Networking Platforms: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and TikTok.
Microblogging Platforms: Tumblr, Reddit, Weibo, and Mastodon.
Messaging Apps: WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and Facebook Messenger.
News Aggregation Platforms:Google News, Apple News, Flipboard, and SmartNews.
Live Streaming Platforms: YouTube Live, Facebook Live, Twitch, and Instagram Live.
Professional Networking Platforms: LinkedIn, Xing, Viadeo, and AngelList.
Local Social Networks: Nextdoor, Meetup, Taringa, and Mixi.
Social Networking Platforms:
Facebook:
Largest social network with various content sharing features.
Competitor in the broader social media space.
Instagram:
Visual-focused platform for sharing photos and short videos.
Competes with Twitter for user engagement.
LinkedIn:
Professional networking platform for career-related connections.
Competitor for users seeking professional networking.
Snapchat:
Known for disappearing photo and video content.
Competitor in the instant visual communication space.
Platform connecting startups, investors, and job seekers.
Competitor in the startup and business networking space.
Local Social Networks:
Nextdoor:
Social networking platform for neighbors and local communities.
Competitor in hyperlocal social interaction.
Meetup:
Platform for organizing and joining local interest groups.
Competitor for local event and activity planning.
Taringa:
Latin American social platform for sharing content and interests.
Competitor in regional social networking.
Mixi:
Japanese social networking platform with various features.
Competitor in the Japanese social media market.
Key Takeaways:
Twitter competes with a diverse range of platforms across social networking, communication, content sharing, and professional networking categories.
Competitors include established giants like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, as well as platforms with specific focuses such as messaging, microblogging, and local interactions.
The landscape is multifaceted, with each platform catering to different user needs and preferences.
As of April 25th, 2022, Elon Musk tried to take over Twitter. Musk tried to purchase the company at $54.20 per share, or about $44 billion. While the deal hasn’t closed, Elon Musk is still the largest shareholder with 9.5% stock ownership, followed by Jack Dorsey, with 2.3% ownership, as the second-largest individual shareholder.
Twitter makes money in two ways: advertising and data licensing. In 2021, Twitter generated $4.5 billion from advertising and $570 million from data licensing. While Twitter generated $5 billion in total revenues, it lost 221 million.
The digital advertising industry has become a multi-billion industry dominated by a few key tech players. The industry’s advertising dollars are also fragmented across several small players and publishers across the web. Most of it is consolidated within brands like Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, Bing, Twitter, TikTok, which is proliferating, and Pinterest.
Google is a platform and a tech media company running an attention-based businessmodel. As of 2021, Alphabet’s Google generated over $257 billion in revenue. Over $209 billion (over 81% of the total revenues) came from Google Advertising products (Google Search, YouTube Ads, and Network Members sites). They were followed by over $28 billion in other revenues (comprising Google Play, Pixel phones, and YouTube Premium) and by Google Cloud, which generated over $19 billion in 2021.
Facebook, the main product of Meta, is an attention merchant. As such, its algorithms condense the attention of over 2.91 billion monthly active users as of June 2021. Meta generated $117.9 billion in revenues in 2021, of which $114.9 billion was from advertising (97.4% of the total revenues) and over $2.2 billion from Reality Labs (the augmented and virtual reality products arm).
Instagram makes money via visual advertising. As part of Facebook products, the company generates revenues for Facebook Inc.’s overall businessmodel. Acquired by Facebook for a billion dollars in 2012, today, Instagram is integrated into the overall Facebook business strategy. In 2018, Instagram founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger left the company as Facebook pushed toward tighter integration of the two platforms.
TikTok is a creative Chinese social media platform driven by short-form video content enabling users to interact and generate content at scale. TikTok primarily makes money through advertising, generating $4.6 billion in advertising revenues in 2021, thus making it among the most popular attention-based business models or attention merchants.
YouTube was acquired for almost $1.7 billion in 2006 by Google. It makes money through advertising and subscription revenues. YouTube advertising network is part of Google Ads, generating more than $28B in revenue by 2021. YouTube also makes money with its paid memberships and premium content.
Microsoft has a diversified businessmodel, spanning from Office to gaming (with Xbox), LinkedIn, search (with Bing), and enterprise services (with GitHub). In 2021, Microsoft made over $168 billion in revenues, of which over $52 billion came from Server products and cloud services, and $39.8 billion came from Office products and cloud services. Windows generated over $23 billion, Gaming generated over $15 billion, LinkedIn over $10 billion, and search advertising (through Bing) over $8.5 billion.
Amazon has a diversified business model. In 2021 Amazon posted over $469 billion in revenues and over $33 billion in net profits. Online stores contributed to over 47% of Amazon revenues, Third-party Seller Services, Amazon AWS, Subscription Services, Advertising revenues, and Physical Stores.
Gennaro is the creator of FourWeekMBA, which reached about four million business people, comprising C-level executives, investors, analysts, product managers, and aspiring digital entrepreneurs in 2022 alone | He is also Director of Sales for a high-tech scaleup in the AI Industry | In 2012, Gennaro earned an International MBA with emphasis on Corporate Finance and Business Strategy.
