In the modern digital age, there are many options for keeping in touch with friends, family, and like-minded individuals. Two of the most popular social platforms are Facebook and Meetup. But do you really need both? Here is a look at the pros and cons of each platform and whether you need Facebook if you already use Meetup.
What is Facebook?
Facebook is the largest social networking site in the world with over 2 billion monthly active users. It allows you to connect with friends, family, coworkers, and people you may know through mutual connections. On Facebook you can:
- Post status updates, photos, videos, and other content
- Comment on and react to posts from your connections
- Join Groups based on shared interests or affiliations
- Create Events and invite guests
- Chat privately or in groups via Facebook Messenger
- Browse content in your News Feed from people and Pages you follow
Facebook requires real name profiles and fosters personal connections between people you already know in real life. The platform is ideal for keeping up with close friends and family, sharing life updates, planning events, and forming communities around shared identities or affiliations.
What is Meetup?
Meetup is an event-based platform that brings people together in person around a common interest or activity. Users can:
- Browse Meetup Groups in their local area that focus on certain hobbies, professions, identities, causes, and more
- RSVP for upcoming events listed within each Group
- Chat with fellow Group members via message boards
- Start their own Meetup Group focused on an interest or activity
Meetup requires real names but the focus is on shared interests rather than existing personal connections. People use Meetup to meet new people who share a specific passion or purpose. The platform facilitates making connections and friendships centered around certain activities, causes, or lifestyles.
Key Differences
While both Facebook and Meetup facilitate making connections and sharing information, there are some key differences:
| Meetup | |
| Emphasis on existing personal connections and sharing aspects of your life | Emphasis on making new connections around shared interests/activities |
| Mainly online interactions and sharing | In-person gatherings and events |
| Friends, family, coworkers, acquaintances | New people who share an interest or purpose |
| Posting updates, reacting to content, messaging | Discussing specific topics, coordinating events |
Do you need both?
Whether or not someone needs both Facebook and Meetup depends on their social and connection preferences:
You only need Facebook if:
- You mainly want to keep tabs on family/friends from real life
- You prefer passive content consumption and sharing life updates
- You want to connect with acquaintances from your past or present
- You prefer online-only interaction via news feed, groups, and messaging
You only need Meetup if:
- You really want to pursue in-person meetups centered around an activity/interest
- You are looking to expand your social circle outside of existing connections
- You want to find local communities focused on specific topics or causes
- You learn and engage more through in-person events and conversations
You may want both if:
- You want to maintain existing personal connections on Facebook while making new connections through Meetup
- You enjoy both passive content interaction online as well as in-person topic/interest-focused events
- You want to supplement real-world friendships with additional in-person connections
- You see value in being involved in both general social networking as well as niche interest/purpose-driven groups
Pros of having both Facebook and Meetup
Here are some of the main benefits of using both Facebook and Meetup together:
- Wider range of connection opportunities for both existing friends and new acquaintances
- Ability to passively keep up with current friends on Facebook while actively cultivating new friendships through Meetup
- More options for finding relevant online and in-person communities
- Complementary functionality with Facebook providing digital sharing and Meetup facilitating real-world interactions
- Broaden horizons by expanding your social circle beyond existing connections
Cons of having both Facebook and Meetup
There are also some potential downsides of using both platforms:
- It can be time-consuming and feel obligatory to actively engage on two platforms
- You may experience some content/event overlap between Facebook Groups and Meetup Groups
- Managing two social circles (existing friends vs. new connections) can be challenging
- Facebook drama may impact your local Meetup community if there is member overlap
- You may feel pressure to spend less time passively consuming on Facebook and more time on event-focused Meetup
Tips for effectively using both
If you decide to use both Facebook and Meetup, here are some tips to get the most out of both platforms:
- Customize your Facebook feed to focus on the friends/family you most want to keep up with
- Set limits on your Facebook time to avoid excessive passive content consumption
- Join Facebook Groups that align with your niche Meetup interests to supplement discussions
- Prioritize Meetup when possible to maximize real-world interactions and friendships
- Avoid duplicating Meetup events/groups on Facebook unless there is a specific need
- Consider friend requests from Meetup connections you want to get to know better offline
- Use Facebook to organize collaborative events/projects with your Meetup friends/groups
Facebook Alternatives vs. Supplements
If Facebook is not meeting your social needs, you have many alternative online platforms to choose from today including:
- Snapchat
- Discord
- Slack
However, most alternatives focus on public sharing, messaging, or interest-based chat rather than facilitating local in-person events and meetups. Meetup offers unique value in helping you find and cultivate local communities to engage with face-to-face around shared interests and causes.
So if you decide to move away from using Facebook, you may still find great value in Meetup for finding local events and making meaningful new connections offline. The two platforms have complementary strengths around connection that may make them worth using together.
Conclusion
Facebook and Meetup can provide complementary value in connecting you with both your existing friends as well as helping you meet new like-minded people in your local area. However, you may find that focusing your limited time on just one platform makes more sense based on your personal connection preferences.
Evaluate whether you most want to strengthen existing personal relationships online via Facebook or expand your social circle locally through interest-based Meetup groups. If the latter goal appeals to you, Meetup may provide plenty of social value whether or not you actively use Facebook as well.
So assess your own connection priorities and consider whether you realistically have time to engagement actively on both platforms. While some may find value in using Facebook and Meetup together, you may be better served choosing the one option that best fits your social and interaction preferences.