Skip to main content

Google +1 makes its official debut

google-plus-1
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s officially time to say our goodbyes to a social network called Google Me. The Mountain View company unveiled a new feature called Google +1. In its company blog, Google explains that its +1 symbol shall become the Internet’s new code for “this is pretty cool” and will now show up in search results to let users recommend links and stories. Not social enough? Google further describes +1, saying that these recommendations will come from people you know, linking the feature to the long-described layered approach Google is taking with social. Of course, if you don’t have a significant amount of Google contacts (which will be generated from Gmail, Buzz, and Reader), don’t worry – you’ll see “how many people across the web have +1’d” something.

In short, Google sums it all up saying that “the beauty of +1’s is their relevance – you get the right recommendations (because they come from people who matter to you), at the right time (when are you are actually looking for information about that topic) and in the right format (your search results).”

+1
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Once a plethora of code names and over-published rumors regarding Google’s social project hit a fever pitch, we heard that the company had settled on something called +1. At the time, it was believed to be related to the new user profile pulldown beneath the toolbar (which Google denied) and that something called a “Loop” (which could be Google’s version of Facebook friends) would also have to do with the new feature. While it remains to be seen if all these elements will integrate to create the mystical Google social project, it certainly seems to a “layered” way to create some sort of networking for the site. What +1 will most importantly do, if successful, is encourage users to create Google Profiles, which were recently updated.

In an interview with Mashable, Google rep Jim Prosser made no secrets that this was a way to compete with Facebook – while also giving search results a more personal touch. And of course, this feature will not integrate with Facebook’s “closed system” but there is a possibility +1 could see some action from Twitter. As for sharing data with other social sites, Quora and Flickr are possibilities, “which Google considers ‘open web’ apps.”

+1 will begin rolling out over the next few months, or you can visit Google.com/experimental to get an early hands on. Also check out the video below for more.

Molly McHugh
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
How to make a GIF from a YouTube video
woman sitting and using laptop

Sometimes, whether you're chatting with friends or posting on social media, words just aren't enough -- you need a GIF to fully convey your feelings. If there's a moment from a YouTube video that you want to snip into a GIF, the good news is that you don't need complex software to so it. There are now a bunch of ways to make a GIF from a YouTube video right in your browser.

If you want to use desktop software like Photoshop to make a GIF, then you'll need to download the YouTube video first before you can start making a GIF. However, if you don't want to go through that bother then there are several ways you can make a GIF right in your browser, without the need to download anything. That's ideal if you're working with a low-specced laptop or on a phone, as all the processing to make the GIF is done in the cloud rather than on your machine. With these options you can make quick and fun GIFs from YouTube videos in just a few minutes.
Use GIFs.com for great customization
Step 1: Find the YouTube video that you want to turn into a GIF (perhaps a NASA archive?) and copy its URL.

Read more
I paid Meta to ‘verify’ me — here’s what actually happened
An Instagram profile on an iPhone.

In the fall of 2023 I decided to do a little experiment in the height of the “blue check” hysteria. Twitter had shifted from verifying accounts based (more or less) on merit or importance and instead would let users pay for a blue checkmark. That obviously went (and still goes) badly. Meanwhile, Meta opened its own verification service earlier in the year, called Meta Verified.

Mostly aimed at “creators,” Meta Verified costs $15 a month and helps you “establish your account authenticity and help[s] your community know it’s the real us with a verified badge." It also gives you “proactive account protection” to help fight impersonation by (in part) requiring you to use two-factor authentication. You’ll also get direct account support “from a real person,” and exclusive features like stickers and stars.

Read more
Here’s how to delete your YouTube account on any device
How to delete your YouTube account

Wanting to get out of the YouTube business? If you want to delete your YouTube account, all you need to do is go to your YouTube Studio page, go to the Advanced Settings, and follow the section that will guide you to permanently delete your account. If you need help with these steps, or want to do so on a platform that isn't your computer, you can follow the steps below.

Note that the following steps will delete your YouTube channel, not your associated Google account.

Read more