Google Plus Might Kill Facebook
A few weeks ago, Google launched their long-awaited response to Facebook. It's called "Google+", and like every other kind of big product launch Google undertakes, this one is by invitation only. It's the way Google ensures that the rollout is organic -- it starts with friends-of-friends and then ripples out -- and that it grows in a controlled bug-free-ish way.
The big distinction between Google+ and its obvious competitor, Facebook, is that Google+ encourages users to group their contacts into "circles" -- you can have family and friends divided up the way you like, and you can easily control who sees what, and more importantly, what you see.
I'm a big fan. I admire Facebook, but it's been too long since they've launched any new features -- their email function is clumsy and inflexible; their grouping function is hard to figure out -- and competition is good. It's what makes good products great. And if you look at the way Google has developed its businesses, you can see that they've taken the opposite strategy to most web companies.
Most big web services -- Facebook, Twitter, etc. -- start by getting big, adding users, charging nothing, and then they try to figure out how to monetize their business. Google took the opposite strategy. They built a business first -- paid search -- and have been adding services (Google Docs, gmail, Google calendar, and now Google+) to knit the company more tightly to its users.
Meanwhile, they keep making money.
The great thing about the web is that there really aren't any monolithic, invulnerable companies. Friendster gave way to MySpace which gave way to Facebook -- and it's naive to think that Facebook isn't vulnerable. Anything can happen.
- Comment (15)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (0)
Comments :
Jul '10
Re: Google Plus Might Kill Facebook
I would be more inclined to think Google had something if this wasn't the third (fourth?) attempt they've made in the social network arena. Not that Facebook is invulnerable, but I haven't seen anything outside the multi-person video that I can't already do in Facebook (albeit in a more user-friendly fashion at Google). That's not enough to go through the hassle of setting up yet another account yet. Plus I don't want them ratting me out to the Chinese authorities for listening to Ricochet podcasts.
May '10
Re: Google Plus Might Kill Facebook
I'm thinking it's the Betamax of social networks. May be a better product. I don't know. Only so much time in the day. But a social network by definition needs to acquire a critical mass of people. And from FB and Twitter, I haven't noticed anyone dropping off the radar.
Then again, as Horace Slughorn, I intentionally keep my circles kind of smallish, cause otherwise couldn't pay personal attention. Maybe there's some mass movement.
Aug '10
Re: Google Plus Might Kill Facebook
The problem with Google+ is that it's ugly and isn't really user friendly. On the plus side, it does offer privacy ... from everyone but Google. Remember "don't be evil," it's the lowest moral standard of any corporate motto.
Aug '10
Re: Google Plus Might Kill Facebook
For me, I don't see a need to use it. I started grouping people into their circles. But at the end of the day, I'm spending time on Facebook and not Google+. Maybe that'll change, but they haven't made the case that makes me want to switch. If new functionality comes out which is useful I could end up using it. Competition will be good for both of these services. If Google+ is going to overtake Facebook it'll take at least a year or two in my opinion.
Re: Google Plus Might Kill Facebook
I like Google+ a lot but I'm still confused about how some of it works. It's definitely more convenient for me than Facebook. Or as a friend calls it "The High School Reunion That Won't End." I just worry about how Google knows more about me than my own husband sometimes. I wonder if Philip K. Dick wrote about this ...
May '10
Re: Google Plus Might Kill Facebook
Ha! No, that's Harry Potter. I refuse to let it end!
Aug '10
Re: Google Plus Might Kill Facebook
Relevant comparison, in stick figure format.
Nov '10
Re: Google Plus Might Kill Facebook
I know that Google is collecting reams of information on me that they'll be sharing with the Borg Collective, but I will always feel beholden to gmail. It saved me from Outlook!
Google+ remains a mystery to me. I have an account. I have circles. I have people in those circles. And I don't use it.
May '10
Re: Google Plus Might Kill Facebook
Google+ is awful. And the portions are too small. Seriously, I'd love an invite: askparisparamus@gmail.com
Dec '10
Re: Google Plus Might Kill Facebook
Doesn't Gore own a ton of Google stock? If so, then hell no to google+. I even use bing if it deprives him of even a single penny with which to control my life.
Aug '10
Re: Google Plus Might Kill Facebook
The benefit of Facebook is that virtually everybody I know is on it. If I need to get a message out to everybody I know, I simply have to post it on Facebook and I'm reasonably assured they'll be exposed to it.
No new social network will be a threat to Facebook unless it can achieve Facebook's level of ubiquity. I do not see Google+ succeeding in that goal without some serious pushback from Facebook.
Google+ will not kill Facebook, but it will force Facebook to improve itself. Good thing, that.
Sep '10
Re: Google Plus Might Kill Facebook
I like it too. The circles appeal to my feline persnickety attitude toward friends, acquaintances and deranged congressional representatives.
Dec '10
Re: Google Plus Might Kill Facebook
Well, Google originally started by charging nothing, adding users, getting big -- and then realizing that search could be monetized.
Dec '10
Re: Google Plus Might Kill Facebook
Why do liberals hate "big" everything except google and government?
Sep '10
Re: Google Plus Might Kill Facebook
I have a friend who duplicates Dante's circles of hell when assigning his friends, acquaintances and enemies to Google's circles.