In a strange, unusual, yet albeit bold move, Google admits to Google+ Flop, saying that there have been decisions in the history of the highly ambitious social media project that in hindsight, could’ve been made differently.
Google has been successful in many other areas of its domain – from the highly successful Android, to the ever-lasting greatness that is YouTube (now one of the company’s most important web services). Yet, the highly promising social network site that had Google so excited four years ago has become little more than a flop.
One of the most controversial decisions in the history of the network is believed to be the requiring of YouTube and other Google service users to have a Google+ plus account. Even if you only wanted an email, the networking site asked for a picture, a few friends, and many other details about you that, while not necessary, were tirelessly nagging you.
And those restless Google+ updates from your friends. See what your neighbor from across the street, to whom you’ve happened to send an email once two years ago, and whom you never greet otherwise, has shared on Google+. I don’t want to see that. Stop it Google!
All jokes aside, Google has now taken a step back and stopped requiring people to have a Google+ account in order to sign up for the video streaming service, YouTube. This is a really big move, and it comes in the context of another decision back in May to split Google+ form Google+ Photos, one of the most widely acclaimed parts of Google+.
So, essentially, in this long, agonizing war against Facebook, which has meant constant defeat, suffering and torment for Google’s troops, the winner has been declared. Google’s accepted its defeat, but, like all great defeats in history, it does not mean that it will cease to exist, but that it will transform.
Facebook is now an undisputed king of social media. Its recent endeavor into mobile advertising has given back a whopping $7.4 billion in revenue just last year. Google is far behind in its income from advertising.
The change for Google+ will eventually remove the requirement of an account from all Google services, and leave users free to use only their Google Account for login. The company will now focus its social media site on connecting more and more people according to their shared interests through Collections, a new feature that they also announced in May.
Google Plus chief Bradley Horowitz has officially admitted that there have been decisions which have needed rethinking in the site’s history.
Image source: nickroshon.com
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