More and more individuals these days are using their mobile device to check Facebook, Instagram or Twitter rather than using a desktop for social media. With that said, the question of whether or not people are using a mobile device vs. a desktop for social media is a question that every organization is being asked. Here are the 6 key differences of using a mobile device for social media vs. desktop
1. Portability
People who work from home or find most of their day being spent crafting e-mails tend to not mind using a desktop for social media. For most though, a wide range of users are finding themselves reaching for their mobile devices over desktop. Mobile devices are always connected to some form of network whether it be WiFi or data so using a mobile device for social media is relatively easy to do.
2. There Is An App For Everything
Some social networks have dedicated desktop or laptop apps for their platforms, but most networks do not.
With your mobile device there is an app for everything, whether you use Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, the list goes on – there is an app for that.
3. Data vs. WiFi
A major difference between a desktop and mobile device lies in a data plan vs. the need to have a constant wifi connection. Mobile devices have the advantage of being able to tap into a cellular network to stay connected to the web, while a desktop most of the time only has a WiFi connection to take advantage of. Wanting to use a network with a laptop requires using a mobile hotspot to allow internet access.
4. Keyboarding
An often overthought aspect of using social media is ease of use with the platforms. Using a desktop can allow a much broader ease of typing to these networks with access to a full physical keyboard; desktop keyboard is easier because of the access to keys using all ten fingers while a mobile device, more often than not, is spent using just your thumbs.
However, when using social media to reply to comments or send a quick text back on Messenger, using a mobile device is much more convenient. But responding back to a lengthy e-mail, a mobile device would be more exhausting. It just depends on the specific use and need of the application.
5. Auto-Correct
Desktops have spell check on Word that has a red line underneath misspelled words cuing you to make a correction. With mobile devices, using this on social media is a feature that is not often available. So, when using a mobile device for social media, relying on auto-correct is a must.
6. Multitasking
Many people prefer the ability to multitask while using social media. When using a mobile device, you can access apps, change a status, share a song, and even use voice command to have the device search online.
Nowadays, a majority of traffic comes from mobile users. While mobile devices are slowly becoming the norm, desktops are still in use.
The ultimate decision of what works best is based on budget, schedule, and accessibility, and this is what defines the perfect choice of choosing to use a mobile device vs. desktop for social media.