Google+ is an Antisocial Network
I’ve been on Google+ since it began, and check in there occasionally, but I’ve never really warmed up to it. I haven’t taken the time to analyze why that is, but I think Chris Abraham nails it in an article on Biznology. He calls Google+ an antisocial network.
His summary:
While there may be a subculture of Google+ zealots who treat Google+ like a forum instead of a social network, the majority of people who love Plus are using it, according to Michael Reynolds, as a “source of content, inspiration, and communication” – more like a reader, a place to keep up with mentors, creators, influencers, and thought leaders. For most, Google+ is an antisocial network.
He makes these key points about what Google got wrong:
- It was not grown organically. Instead, Google foisted itself on millions of users of other Google services.
- There’s little guidance for newcomers.
- You have to spend a lot of time sorting everyone you know into circles.
- It’s hard to understand what circles are and how to use them.
- There’s no way for other social apps like Instagram to automatically post to your Google+ wall.
- There’s no good way to invite friends to Google+.
There are those who love Google+ as a way to keep up with their favorite thought leaders without much distraction. But there’s very little interaction going on there. It doesn’t feel like a community.