Skip to main content

Come one, come all: Google+ officially opens up for business

welcome to g+After what felt like one of the lengthiest private beta testing periods, Google+ is finally up and running for everyone. For those of you who are just now jumping on board, the site has probably been labeled many things, including anonymity killer, Facebook challenger, privacy champion, and even big disappointment. But none of us really know exactly what Google+ is, not yet, as Google continues to alter and improve its biggest foray into social networking.

Now when something becomes easily available, people aren’t likely to beg for it as they did before–which Google knows all too well and took great advantage of in its Google+ infancy. But just to play devil’s advocate here’s why you should and shouldn’t want to jump on the G+ bandwagon.

Recommended Videos

Why you should

Odds are you use at least one Google product or property, be it an Android phone, a Gmail account, or Chrome. And while Google+ is still working on more fully tying in other Google applications (come on in-page Gmail client!), that black unifying bar makes for a new social networking experience. In Facebook, you are more cut off from the rest of the Web (although this is changing more and more), but with Google+ you’re able to stay within the site while only a click away from any of your other Google accounts (which, yes, are technically unified under your own Google account).

Which makes another argument: If you are using a Google application of some sort, you have a Google account, so you may as well check out Google+ since the company has all your information anyway.

We don’t foresee a Facebook-Myspace type situation in the makings here: Facebook isn’t going to fall into a black hole while Google+ takes over the social networking word. But it’s certainly the most competitive challenger to date, and being an early adopter has its benefits.

There’s also something to its second place standing that makes Google+ attractive. The site has a very different user demographic than Facebook and isn’t overrun with applications like Farmville or the hefty amount of spam updates Facebook is–yet, at least. This gives it a cleaner and less saturated look over all. And there are two sides to that whole anti-anonymity thing Google has enacted: If you want to know precisely who every person is on a social network, which obviously has its benefits, then G+ is the place for you.

Why you shouldn’t

Who needs one more Internet account? Another login, another site to check, one more thing that requires your attention. This is made all the worse by the fact that you can’t import contacts from Facebook to Google+. You’ve spent this long with a Facebook profile which has already captured far too much of your attention, and G+ is sure to do the same. And if it doesn’t, your profile will just sit there collecting dust.

There are also a deluge of complaints that Google+ is…well, boring. Despite all of its features and captivating launch, things like its no-nickname policy and 18-and-over user base means it’s a little more mature than Facebook. Is social networking supposed to be for grown-ups? It has most of the elements of Facebook but without the same college-kid vibe that permeates the site, no matter the fact that it’s open to all.

Or you could argue your principles won’t allow you to give into Google’s anti-anonymity policies. The site will undoubtedly have an even firmer grasp in your Internet identity should you choose to get a Google+ account, and Internet identity is supposed to be something you have complete control over.

Updates

We’ll admit that there are a few reasons a Google+ is superfluous, but would argue it’s at the very least worth trying out. That, and a few updates Google has added will seriously enhance the site:

  • Search in G+: We begged for it, we go it.
  • Hangouts will now include an “over the air” feature for broadcasting and recording sessions, as well as “with extras” so you can share and discuss content from Google Docs, use a sketchpad, or other screensharing options. Hangouts are now available via the Google+ app as well.
  • The app also features an improved messaging system, which before was named Huddle and didn’t do everything we needed it to (no list of who was currently available…seriously?). Now Messenger gets the job done.
Molly McHugh
Former Social Media/Web Editor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
Bluesky finally adds a feature many had been waiting for
A blue sky with clouds.

Bluesky has been making a lot of progress in recent months by simplifying the process to sign up while at the same time rolling out a steady stream of new features.

As part of those continuing efforts, the social media app has just announced that users can now send direct messages (DMs).

Read more
Reddit just achieved something for the first time in its 20-year history
The Reddit logo.

Reddit’s on a roll. The social media platform has just turned a profit for the first time in its 20-year history, and now boasts a record 97.2 million daily active users, marking a year-over-year increase of 47%. A few times during the quarter, the figure topped 100 million, which Reddit CEO and co-founder Steve Huffman said in a letter to shareholders had been a “long-standing milestone” for the site.

The company, which went public in March, announced the news in its third-quarter earnings results on Tuesday.

Read more
Worried about the TikTok ban? This is how it might look on your phone
TikTok splash screen on an Android phone.

The US Supreme Court has decided to uphold a law that would see TikTok banned in the country on January 19. Now, the platform has issued an official statement, confirming that it will indeed shut down unless it gets some emergency relief from the outgoing president.

“Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19,” said the company soon after the court’s verdict.
So, what does going dark mean?
So, far, there is no official statement on what exactly TikTok means by “going dark.” There is a lot of speculation out there on how exactly the app or website will look once TikTok shutters in the US.

Read more