How can I update my Facebook status with Twitter Tweets?

Some of my friends on Facebook have tweaked things so that they can have their Facebook status automatically updated when they send out a new Tweet on Twitter. How the heck do they do that?

Dave's Answer:

Okay, I have to laugh at this question just because it so beautifully demonstrates the goofy nomenclature and jargon in our industry - and I completely understand you too, which is just scary! For those that aren't sure what the heck we're talking about, a "Tweet" is a status update on the popular "micro-blogging" site Twitter.

I have been wondering about how to set this up too, particularly when sometimes I connect to Facebook just to find out that all the status change messages from my friends are Tweets that I've already seen through my own Twitterfeed. Honestly, I don't like it: if I wanted to see their Twitter updates, I'd be following them on Twitter.

The secret is to go to the Twitter application within the Facebook world. Here's a convenient shortcut: apps.facebook.com/twitter/. When I go there, it's already aware of my Twitter account, as you can see in this screen shot:

The key link there is the box labelled "Want Twitter to update your Facebook status?"

Click on it. Now you'll get the small print:

Authorize access: Twitter within Facebook

If you're really ready to unleash this on your Facebook pals, check "Allow Twitter to update my status without notifying me" and then click on "Authorize Twitter".

That's all there is to it. Now when you Twitter, you'll get those updates appearing in Facebook too, as I show here:

Facebook status updated from Twitter Tweet

This also aptly demonstrates the problem with this system: Facebook status updates for the Facebook community are likely to be quite different to the Tweets you send to your Twitter followers. I would never have a Facebook status update that demonstrates my gawdawful taste in late night movies, but on Twitter it's par for the course and indeed, I constantly receive amusing comments from my friends about my knowledge of cinema and how it contrasts with the movies I actually watch.

Suffice to say, I enabled this so I could demonstrate it to you, but I'm going to disable it again so that my Facebook updates are only those that I target for Facebook... (which I accomplish by clicking on "edit" adjacent to the "Applications" menu on the left side of my Facebook home page)

Oh, and if you want to find me on these networks, I have a busy Twitterfeed here Dave on Twitter and a profile on Facebook too: Dave on Facebook, and don't miss the help I have for both services here too: Twitter help and Facebook help.

Categorized: Facebook Help , Twitter, LinkedIn and Social Network Help (Article 7819, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: facebook, social networking, status messages, twitter
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Comments

Heys, not sure if this help’s but no harm posting. Had problems with selective posting and account mixups. Found my solution with this guy’s tutorial:

http://cogito.faii.net/linking-facebook-to-twitter-tutorial/

He details using this other app that helps post selectively only.

However he says it doesn’t work if your twitter feed is on private/safe mode.

Cheers and hope it helps!

Posted by: Tricia Levane at February 20, 2009 11:35 AM

Dens

Posted by: Dens at April 10, 2009 8:52 AM

I recently got "suckered" into downloading a "Zwinky" toolbar. How can I delete a toolbar from my main screen?

Posted by: Danny McDonald at April 14, 2009 5:59 AM

thankx, i needed this info...

Posted by: Abdul Rahman at May 2, 2009 1:14 PM

TweetDeck is an easy to use application that allows you to update twitter and facebook simultaneously, or choose if you would like your status to be exclusive to either one.

Posted by: Gavin Davie at June 24, 2009 1:54 PM

This is exactly what I was looking for. But I don't think it works anymore. It has been loading this page link forever. I may take his advice and keep my Twitter tab.

Posted by: Sherrin at April 20, 2010 8:53 AM

This is helpful if you want to post on Facebook and have it automatically come up on your Twitter, but I want it the other way around. I want to post on Twitter and have the Tweet automatically post on Facebook (this is for a Page, by the way, not my personal profile). How can I make this happen??

Posted by: Bec T at May 12, 2010 6:09 AM

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the post.

I want to introduce our new service Sociaholic.com (http://sociaholic.com) that works great and lets you update your facebook in a much cooler way.

It also conveniently converts '@handle' and links and presents them in with a preview on your wall just like you post on facebook. You can even selectively ignore tweets by adding !fb

Please check it out and let us know your thoughts.

Posted by: Greg at May 24, 2010 5:02 PM

Thanks for the info. The FB link was what I was looking for.

Posted by: Frannie at July 1, 2010 7:31 AM

thanks a lot!!

Posted by: king at August 24, 2010 5:21 PM

Nice! Thanks a lot. An entrepreneur I admire from Zinch.com @mickhagen does this and I want to be cool like that

Posted by: Ethan at September 29, 2010 4:01 PM

You have made my day Dave!!! Have been raking my brain on linking Facebook & Twitter for existing pages and it has all become clear now thanks to your post!

Merci, merci, merci!!!!

Posted by: Caroline Broquere Lartigue at October 12, 2010 3:46 AM

Thanks! It's just what I needed.

Posted by: Bob at November 23, 2010 1:10 PM

TweetsLink
Hi
let me add another facebook app http://www.arfeen.net/2010/11/a-new-usefull-facebook-app-share-your-links-in-your-tweets/ , by this it will be ease for twiples to share their hyperlinks on facebook wall as shared story :) …

Posted by: arfeen at November 30, 2010 7:44 AM

Some people have been having problems with the Twitter app recently. Their tweets suddenly stopped updating their Facebook profile.

Here's a quick guide on how to fix this problem:

http://techiebabbles.blogspot.com/2011/03/tweets-not-appearing-on-facebook.html

Posted by: Ben at March 9, 2011 10:41 PM

Let me add http://tuitting.com. I can also post Pictures and Youtube Videos to my Facebook Accounts and Fan Pages. I like it.

Posted by: Mario at August 11, 2011 3:01 AM

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!