Hi Peter,
I’m glad that we agree – there is a time and place for both options. When I use social media I do as you – use the online services to get a quick overview of the context.
I also have different keyboards installed on tablet and phone – this is also helpful if the wanted language uses specific characters or letters.

/Sembach

I agree that the two types of translation service don’t compete, as Google and Bing services are useless for formal or important translations, but excellent for quick unimportant, low quality translations, or to save time in situations where one would not seek professional translation.

I use Google Translate to speed up communication with friends or on social media in a language I’m reasonable in, or have a basic understanding of. I’ve found that often means adjusting the original English to get a better translation, or using reverse translation to get the best outcome. This does require a reasonable or basic knowledge of the destination language.

Another useful tool I’ve found is the spell checker and auto-completion tool on smart phones or tablets. I normally have a few “keyboards” or languages registered and swap to the language I need help in when required.