All your online are belong to us.
One of the effects of Google+’s controlled roll out, primarily to tech geeks and Social Media nerds, was an avalanche of “Google+ will be a (fill in the blank) killer” posts. Twitter – dead! Facebook – dead! Twitter and Facebook – dead! I’ve tried to hold off on such pronouncements because, A) that’s the easy way out, and B) nobody knows what effects exactly Google+ is going to have on the online media habits of millions of people. Let’s not forget, while 10 million users in just a couple of weeks is impressive, it’s still a relatively small sample size.
Others have looked to dissect Google+, such as Ben Kunz, writing for Businessweek.com, who hailed Google+ for its lack of game mechanics (a point which I, and others, disagreed with in the comments section). Tom Moradpour went the linkbait route with his Five Fatal Flaws of Google+ post. Personally, I think it’s a bit premature to call them fatal flaws because we don’t have enough data to say they will ultimately derail the platform, and nothing is a fatal flaw when you’re always in beta mode. I’m sure Google will make the necessary adjustments if they see problems and hear from users. Jason Falls, a voice of sanity in all this reminds us all to calm down and keep things in perspective regarding Google+.
Rather than examine Google+ on the micro level, my thoughts lean towards the macro. Personal preference will determine whether you like Google+ more than Twitter, but when you pull out and look at the larger picture, the advantages of Google (not Google+) seem to be mounting and I’m not sure I can see someone else there who can bring the social firepower to the table to challenge Google.
While I think Google+ is a fine platform I find myself gravitating towards it because of the little red box in the upper right-hand corner. I see it on Google+, I see it in Gmail, I see it in Google News (which has just added some intriguiging game mechanics) and I wouldn’t be surpised if I see it on YouTube in the near future. Google is going to own my online experience not because all their offerings are superior – though they are all of a very high quality – they are going to own my online experience because they offer me a connected experience of very high quality offerings.
Take a look at this terrific photo essay from Vincent Wong in which he describes What G+ is Really About. According to Vincent, Google+ isn’t so much a threat to Facebook or Twitter (at least not right now) as it is a threat to Microsoft and even Apple because of what Google is building. The breadth of the platforms, especially when you include Android, makes Google a nearly unavoidable part of just about everyone’s life.
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Seth Gray
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 5:43 pm:
I think you’re right. In the long run, if you can have tentacles in *every* aspect of someone’s online experience, you redefine what “social” means. You also hedge against the inevitable backlash against social. It becomes a feature that’s easily turned off, rather than your whole revenue stream.
Rick Liebling
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 2:17 pm:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Gerard
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 2:21 pm:
RT @Rick_Now: Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Kimberly Anderson
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 2:22 pm:
"@zaibatsu: RT @Rick_Now: Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Adhere Creative
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 2:25 pm:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Lee | Branding
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 2:25 pm:
RT @Rick_Now: Google Won't Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://t.co/o2OId6f
Rhianna Rita Starr
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 2:26 pm:
RT @Rick_Now: Google Won't Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://t.co/H08dgSq
AAADisplays.com
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 2:27 pm:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Steve Cantrell
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 2:28 pm:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Jessica L Reynolds
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 2:29 pm:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Jaohra Al-Tuwaijri
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 2:30 pm:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Daniel Kuperhand
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 2:32 pm:
RT @Rick_Now: Google Won't Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://t.co/H08dgSq
Skepticool
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 2:37 pm:
RT @zaibatsu @Rick_Now Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Rockfish Social
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 2:49 pm:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Kaisa Schreck
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 2:50 pm:
Will #Google come to own our online experience (while not necessarily killing #Facebook, #Twitter in the process)? http://t.co/TlA5bKn
Hector Gray
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 3:08 pm:
RT @Rick_Now: Google Won't Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://t.co/mNygmOF
Ankit
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 3:19 pm:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
alexedu7
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 4:54 pm:
Artículo sobre Goggle plus: http://t.co/HoZfjik
Digital DESIGN
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 5:46 pm:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Walter Schwabe
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 10:16 pm:
Great post Rick, I agree that behaviour data is a key part of the plan. In fact, it’s a key part of all digital efforts or at least it should be…there’s gold in the patterns…so much so, it causes companies to cross privacy boundaries just like Facebook, Google, Apple have done.
Najeema Washington
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 6:45 pm:
RT @Rick_Now: Google Won't Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus
Chameleon
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 6:45 pm:
RT @Rick_Now: Google Won't Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus
Pamela Mitchell
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 6:47 pm:
RT @Rick_Now: Google Won't Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus
Richard Harrison
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 7:58 pm:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Diana Ramos
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 9:05 pm:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://t.co/G2xNwM4 via @AddToAny
jono
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 9:06 pm:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://t.co/G2xNwM4 via @AddToAny
João Arruda
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 9:32 pm:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://t.co/G2xNwM4 via @AddToAny
Paul Hay
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 9:32 pm:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Walter Schwabe
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 10:11 pm:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Frederick Wellman
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 10:14 pm:
Good perspective RT @rick_now: Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #socialmedia
Jeffrey Nicholson
on Jul 20th, 2011
@ 10:15 pm:
Good perspective RT @rick_now: Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #socialmedia
John Bonds
on Jul 21st, 2011
@ 12:42 am:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Glen Green
on Jul 21st, 2011
@ 2:30 am:
RT @rick_now: Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Glen Green
on Jul 23rd, 2011
@ 2:35 pm:
RT @rick_now: Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
Joel McNamara
on Jul 23rd, 2011
@ 6:03 pm:
@christoronyi Great post from @Rick_Now on Google+ reviews. Don't miss the photo essay link at the end > http://bit.ly/o6mT8F
Glen Green
on Jul 27th, 2011
@ 2:35 am:
RT @rick_now: Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://bit.ly/oTk6D2 #googleplus #socialmedia
csinkus
on Jul 29th, 2011
@ 2:10 pm:
Google+ Won’t Kill Facebook or Twitter, Google Has a Bigger Agenda http://j.mp/r7zTNj via