Brandon Moon

Or in other words… why I’m not that excited about Google+.

First thing’s first, Google+ is built very well. It’s use of “Circles” is a very good idea (especially the fact that you don’t have to be following people following you - worst part of Facebook). Plus it has some cool features like “Hangouts” and “Huddles.” I also like the clean design, the way that it integrates with all your existing Google services, and lack of annoying 3rd party applications.

In short, Google+ is basically what I wanted in a social network.

So why don’t I like it?

Because it’s too late in the game to introduce a new social network.

Think about it. Right now I’m juggling Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tumblr, and the myriad of other small utilities that have a “social” feature. The last thing I need is another network. Facebook is already keeping track of my contacts, Twitter lets me share links and little fun things, LinkedIn is a great professional network, and Tumblr lets me blog.

Where does Google+ fit in?

For me, it really doesn’t. Granted, not everybody is in the same situation as me, but still… I just don’t want to have to worry about managing Google+ alongside everything else. Not to mention that I have to wait for all the cool browser extensions and mobile apps to be developed before I can really use it the way I would want. Oh, and of course, the mobile web version isn’t supported on my phone (but that’s a gripe for another day).

When we cut down to the core of the issue, we find this: the reason I want a social network is for the network. Not the cool features, not really even the privacy concerns, but the network. Because really, it’s all about having that connection to the people I want to reach. Facebook has some cool features, Google+ has some cool features, and Twitter has some cool features, but basically I use them to do the same thing: to connect and share with my network! Unfortunately, I have to rebuild that network every time a new service comes along. This is super ineffective.

Email is genius. I register for an address — doesn’t matter who I register with, could be Google, Yahoo, Windows Live, or even Facebook — and anyone else that has an email address can email me! Doesn’t matter who they register with either, they can still “connect” with me. New email clients are built all the time, and I can switch without breaking links to my existing “network.” Pure genius!

I submit that this is what we need for social networks. Some sort of agreed upon standard for social networks, such that different “registrars” (Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) can communicate between each other. That way I can reach my network through Google+, or through Facebook, or through Twitter. Then I just pick my preferred interface, and meanwhile the big companies are competing over a better interface and better services (kinda like they’re already doing).

In the meantime though, I probably won’t be using Google+ very much. Quite frankly, it’s just too much for me.