Google Plus (or Google + if you like to use mathematical symbols to confuse others, which is what I less than 3 to do) is Google’s equivalent to Facebook.
Google Plus gives you the ability to share photos, links, chat, email and…I can’t really tell what other cool things it does yet that Facebook does not, and almost everyone I know is already on Facebook.
Anyway, when you start making connections in Google Plus, it prompts you to add people into defined “circles” including family, friends, acquaintances, and following (stalking?).
So far I’m not popular on Google Plus, but I don’t really see what the big deal is.
The stream of info pretty much looks like Facebook but not as fun.
If I wanted to chat with someone, there are 5 other ways to do that, so that’s nothing new.
I also don’t like putting people I know into categories that someone (Google) can see, or use for not evil purposes.
This is could also be a way for Google to follow us, know exactly what sites we are on, what we look like, who we hang out with, etc. (All other paranoid people are urged to see my article, Opt Out of Facebook’s Facial Recognition).
Have you tried it Google Plus yet? What do you think?
So far not really like it or the user interface. Not all that intuitive…
LESS THAN 3!!!
cringe!
Circles: Facebook has groups, Google+ has circles. The names of the circles are irrelevant, and you can rename them/create more of them. You don’t have to use Circles at all, if you don’t want to; nobody is forcing you to do it, you just won’t have the ability to logically restrict your posts any further than “Public.”
Following: “Following” is the list of people who you have in one of your circles, who don’t have you listed in one of yours. For example, if you add Mark Zuckerberg to a circle, he probably won’t add you back, but he’ll go in your “following” list. (The other side of this is that if someone adds you to a circle but you don’t reciprocate, their posts are found under “Incoming”)
I suggest you connect with more people on Google+ so you can get the full effect. It’s not quite there yet, but they’ve made some pretty exciting strides in the last week and they’re making some changes this week to respond to feedback.
Regarding Google+ vs. Facebook on a privacy level, I’m not real sure how you can question Google’s privacy intentions without mentioning Facebook: Google has a history of long-term web-tending; their stock in trade is to get solid information to put more relevant ads in front of your eyeballs and collect money from their advertisers. Facebook’s SOP is to sell your actual information (name, address, etc) to developers or directly to advertisers. I’m not saying Google can do no wrong but in the context of Google vs. Facebook, a Facebook user complaining about the potential for Google’s misuse/abuse of your data is weird.
I have not tried it, but will see.. :)