What would Facebook be like if Google created it? The world might see an answer in Google+, the company’s newest social media site. It could be the next big thing, but because the site is only available for invited beta testers, not everyone can take a look inside and see for themselves.
IPFW information systems major and Google+ field tester Santhosh Venkatraman’s first reaction to the new site was “fantastic.” He said the most creative aspect of Google+ is the ability to sync albums from Picasa, Google’s photo-sharing site. He also said the site makes it “very easy to communicate and process.” It is the features like these, and the lack of applications like FarmVille, that many say set Google+ apart from Facebook.
Like the Picasa tool, Google+ often uses other Google applications to enhance the site. Google Search powers “sparks,” a special feed that only shows users articles and site relevant to selected interests. However, some features require exclusive-to-Google plug-ins and a Google account is necessary to sign in at all.
Despite the differences, the inside of Google+ resembles a Facebook feed. However, Facebook requires both users to add each other in order to share information. To share with someone on Google+, a user doesn’t need the other person’s permission – they only have to add them to their circles and begin posting. Though, they would only be able to see the other person’s public posts.
Circles also control what is shared with whom. By organizing different people into different circles, they can avoid sharing potentially awkward information about last night’s date with grandma and grandpa by not selecting the “family” circle. A person can also be added to two different circles at once, incase mom should really hear about how awesome the date was.
Another major feature of Google+ is the chat system, which the site calls “hangouts.” This is an open “room” in which users can video chat with each other. To start a hangout, a user can open it up and select which circles they want to hangout with. However, any user in the hangout can invite anyone else. The feature also requires the Google Voice and Video plug-in to use.
Though most of the features appear to be running smoothly, some of them are not completely available. Google+’s rival to Facebook’s “like” button, called “+1,” allows users to recommend outside articles or websites to the public. Although any site that can be found on a Google search can be +1’d, specific articles or videos might not yet boast a +1 button on the page.
This isn’t Google’s first dive into the world of social media. In 2009, Google Wave launched, a site that allowed users to share and edit in real time. However, the lack of users caused the company to shut it down after little over a year. Another Google-owned social site, Orkut, has received more popularity, though not in the United States as much as other countries.
Will Google+ face the same fate as Wave, or the American unpopularity of Orkut?
“Only time will tell,” said Venkatraman. He said he is hopeful and confident that it will be successful, though.
Because the site is still not open to the public, it might seem empty compared to bustling social media like Facebook or Twitter. This can leave current users disappointed and unable to fully utilize the site.
Such a reaction is “very unfair,” according to Venkatraman. “It still hasn’t established and still in the testing stage,” he said.
For those who are clamoring for an invitation but still can’t get it, tours of the site are available, as well as an e-mail subscription which will notify waiters when the site goes public.
