#Winning: 3 Reasons Millennials Prefer Twitter Over Facebook

In the past couple of weeks, Twitter has taken a beating in the press.

From Twitter’s recent layoffs and Jack Dorsey’s apology to developers to the negative projections of its stock, nothing seems to be going right at the bird’s nest.

Twitter is struggling to stay competitive in the social media space.

It only has 316 million monthly active users, compared to Facebook’s 1.4 billion monthly active users and Instagram’s 400 million monthly active users.

The lack of dedicated users is often seen as an example of Twitter’s poor business strategy.

Twitter clearly has a problem locking in casual users and monetizing its platform, but let’s put the negative aside for a bit.

Twitter actually has a lot going for itself (like YoY increase in earnings and revenue). Even though my two cents doesn't matter all that much, compared to Steve Ballmer’s $800 million, Twitter has my vote of confidence.

In fact, I love Twitter. Here are three reasons why:

1. The world is more connected.

Part of Facebook’s mission statement is to "make the world more open and connected,” but it’s really Twitter that’s living up to this mission.

As a person who uses all major social media platforms, each platform has a specific purpose for me.

LinkedIn is used to connect with professionals, Instagram is used to enjoy photos from friends, photographers and brands, Facebook is used to connect with friends and family and Twitter is used to connect with the world.

I’m confident I’m not the only one who sees Facebook as a platform for interacting with friends and family.

If Facebook is used merely as a platform to connect with people who matter the most, there isn't much "connecting with the world" going on.

On the other hand, Twitter is a global forum for people to share stories and ideas. On Twitter, content is global, fast and endless.

Most news stories break on Twitter before they're even televised.

For example, I first learned about Osama bin Laden’s death on Twitter from a person I was following, even before I turned on a television.

The way in which global information is published and consumed on Twitter is unprecedented. Even Facebook has tried to steal some tricks from Twitter by instituting the hashtag and trending topics.

No matter how many platforms try to replicate its features, the world’s content and the way people share it clearly rests in the hands of Twitter.

2. Twitter is where the conversation starts.

Want to know what everyone in the world is talking about?

Log on to Twitter.

Twitter is often where the conversation starts for everything that's worth talking about. Any time a major event happens, Twitter is always the front-runner when it comes to social media activity.

Organizations and media companies create official hashtags around events -- such as #DemDebate for the upcoming Iowa Democratic debate -- to boost their own website traffic and position themselves as a leading content creator in an ever-changing digital space.

Twitter is also where brands can flex their savvy content muscles.

For example, tweets like Oreo’s famous Super Bowl blackout one are always in the works among social media teams.

Although this type of quick thinking can sometimes create a PR nightmare for brands, it shows Twitter is a priority for most brands when it comes to social media engagement.

If any major brand or organization wants to engage with customers and the global community, the conversation will almost certainly start on Twitter.

3. Everyone has a voice.

Most people on the web are consumers of content.

A few years ago, if you wanted to create content, you would have had to find a savvy way to get people to your blog. With Twitter, promoting your content has never been easier.

Twitter is the only place where your bite-sized tweet can reach thousands of people instantly.

Thought leaders, influencers and self-proclaimed experts from every industry on Earth have a presence on Twitter to amplify their personal brand.

Because of Twitter, you don’t have to be an expert to have something to say, nor do you have to have a large following to get your voice heard.

I encourage people not to write Twitter off just yet.

Its streamlined approach to social media remains highly popular, and its growth rate isn’t as bad as some investors might lead you to think.

In the right hands, Twitter has the potential to become the most important platform for human connection.

Thanks to Twitter, I’ve never felt as close to the world as I do now.