Google believes it has discovered a way to completely invalidate Facebook, and all Facebook users. On Tuesday, Google introduced The Google+ Project, a new social network that emphasizes privacy overall, and will include group text messaging and video chatting.
The way that Google+ will work is by dividing your contacts into groups, and sharing (or not sharing) whatever you want with specific groups. There will be no friend requests to stress over, and no need to worry about posting those pictures from Friday night that you don’t want your parents to see.
This isn’t the first time that Google has tried to get into the social networking game. Some of you Gmail users may be familiar with the highly unpopular Buzz, which automatically included all of your e-mail contacts into your network, even if you probably didn’t know them (like that HR guy you e-mailed about a job that you didn’t get). This glitch got people up in arms, and now Google reps say that they have learned from that mistake.
As of now, Google+ is being tested by a select few. If you happen to be one of those super cool kids, you get to invite a few friends to test it out as well. If not, you’ll have to wait until it gets a big thumbs up from its testers.
Do you think Google+ could replace Facebook?
[via The New York Times]
guest
It might be nice, but I already have facebook, so it really doesn’t do me any good.
rose / 795 posts
I like the idea of it, not sure if I would actually use it, though. I feel like we’ve all put so much time and effort into our Facebooks, it would be weird to leave them.
guest
If it has more privacy, then it just might considering the fact that Facebook has been screwing people when it comes to privacy.
orchid / 237 posts
I doubt that it will be as wildy popular as Facebook. I do think that the privacy issues that Facebook is having might push people to use another social networking site. I definitely don’t think this is going to be the next big thing though like Facebook was in the days of MySpace. In either case, I probably won’t be using the Google+ site, although I pretty much love all of Google’s other products.
guest
No
guest
For it to ever be as popular as Facebook, it seems everyone would have to have a gmail account (unless that’s not true) and for people who are perfectly fine with their current email, it’s unlikely they would set up an entirely new email account just to use this – when facebook already works just fine. There have been other attempts at sites to try and dupicate/replace Facebook that have never worked out. Despite Google’s popularity already, I doubt this will make it.
guest
I resisted facebook at first when I was using myspace, so it depends on who starts to use it I guess.
guest
I think you might be surprised. Facebook is not that intuitive, it’s technologically not that fascinating and Google+ seems to be working farther than Facebook with user-experience. I will most likely be making the switch, especially if I can have better privacy and more control with Google+, because Facebook has far too many problems.
guest
It’s actually very different and I’m really enjoying it. The ability to separate by group is fantastic, it isn’t overloaded with external apps (yet), and the “+1″ tool (the response to facebook’s “like” button) is less intrusive, as it works on its own feed…so when you like stuff all around the internet, it basically integrates with your interests instead of just taking over your wall.
I also don’t think it will replace facebook, merely provide yet another option for people to communicate. For example, I’m enjoying using it to share news stories with specific groups of friends who I know will enjoy it, rather than tweeting them to everyone that follows my twitter…that sort of thing
I recommend giving it a try
sunflower / 397 posts
Do we really need MORE social networking sites?
guest
I don’t think there will be any social site will be stopping me using Xanga and ish sites for good.