I've been thinking about Google+ for a while. Occasionally talking about it with people. Jesse could tell you a little about our conversation which was accompanied by various efforts to explore the functionality of this new social network. I didn't quite get it at first (which is a problem Google is going to have to address).
But today, I think I've started to understand. Google+ is an evolutionary step above its big rival, Facebook. Quite frankly, I think it's a brilliant invention for those of us who are a little tired with the sheer amount of time we spend on Facebook, getting next to nothing accomplished, but still appreciate the communal nature of social media and the ability to SHARE information over the various platforms at our disposal.
If I were a diligent blog writer I would find my source here, but I'm not, so trust me when I say that I once read something about Facebook and its effect on our spare time. In addition to myself, I know many friends who spend a lot of time "on Facebook" which has this ability to make us feel like we're accomplishing something without really doing anything at all. The reason behind this, I think, is the wall. The Facebook wall is this odd place where all of a sudden interactions between individuals became public knowledge. Addicting? Yes. Productive? I don't think so.
I know that I have found myself suffering from what I am calling "Facebook Fatigue" which results from spending too much time looking at nothing of real importance on the King of Social Networks. I get bored and frustrated but sometimes have a hard time finding something else to do.
Recently, I've found a different and (I think) better and more productive use for social networks: the sharing of ideas and information. Twitter is great for this, and I repeatedly defend its use to those who claim to "Not Understand." Google+ might be better though.
First, I love Google+'s emphasis on "Sharing" Look:
And because of this "Sharing" emphasis, it can be done anonymously, like Twitter, so you don't have to know someone personally to take advantage of the information they share publicly. BUT, you don't have to share information publicly, you can share it with Circles, or with specific people. This might be the most control over your information granted by any social network. (That I know of)
Secondly, there's no wall! Which, admittedly, I first saw as a downfall, but now view as a great evolutionary jump in social networking. Finally, I don't have to see what every one of my friends is saying to every other one of my friends. I can start to wrestle my free time back away from the futility of Facebook! Hooray!
This is also why I want all of you to start using Google+. You can still "Share whats new" so you'll be keeping me posted on your life, which I still appreciate about social networking. And, we can use Hangouts, which actually, I think bring a little more of the "Social" part back into social networking.
So in review:
- Sharing. Which is good. We're spreading knowledge, which is a great feature of social networking.
- No Wall! Finally, the details of everyone else's personal relationships becomes a little less public. I don't think anyone should have a problem with that. Don't get me wrong, knowing these things about people is interesting, it just gets in the way of me doing something more meaningful.
- Hangouts. Which I think might be one of the defining elements of Google+. Now I just have to try it.
Join Google+, the social network for people who want their real lives back.
I would have to agree that I like the format of Google+ much much better than that of Facebook, simply for the security it offers. As someone who is currently looking for their first adult job, it's nice to know that I can confidently share something with a very limited audience (though, to be safe, I will probably keep my social sharing to a bare minimum until I secure a post-graduation, "big-girl" job).
ReplyDeleteThat all being said, I think to say Google+ will give us back our free time wasted on Facebook requires we STOP using Facebook...which would probably ultimately be a good thing. But I don't see that happening for quite some time just because of sheer numbers. Most of us are connected to a lot of people via Facebook - many of whom will probably be Facebook loyalists, at least in the short-term...and while I am open to the platform of Google+, I'm not totally willing to give up my ability to connect with those who are unwilling to switch social media providers.
I think for me, Google+ will likely mean more time spent on social networking for the time being. But I'm willing to make that sacrifice. Perhaps in the long run we will see the nearly 750 million people on Facebook make the switch to Google+...until then, I think I'll be running dual screens.