Geek to Geek: Google Plus

Welcome again to Geek to Geek, where we answer geeky questions (and you can too).

This week's question: Is Google Plus going to affect how you use social media?

Tamara: Personally, no.  I’ve had a G+ account since the beta began, and after adding all my contacts into it, I’ve hardly given it a second glance.  Then again, I was never all that involved in Myspace or Facebook either.

Bonnie: I don't think it's going to have much effect in the long run. Facebook is firmly established and it's not going anywhere. I can see Google Plus being a strong number two, though, especially if they aim at a targeted, niche crowd – specifically, a geek audience who would feel more comfortable there than in the "here comes everybody" atmosphere of Facebook.

Steve: Not really, it's another item to use.

Your turn, commenters.  Unless you're busy with your Google Plus accounts.

  • http://profile.typepad.com/6p0120a5823410970b www.genjipress.com

    I use it, but for the most part i’m regarding it the same as any social media tool. It’s not really mine in the first place, and so I need to be cautious about that. It belongs to Google, and so I use it mostly to direct attention to the things that I have at least some modicum of real control over, like my blog. And yes, I know that is in turn hosted by someone else, etc., but it’s an order of magnitude easier to leave them and go to another provider than it is to quit a social network and migrate from there.

  • http://profile.typepad.com/tamara126 Tamara Hecht

    @ Genji Press
    That brings up an interesting future question: Do you trust other companies/webistes with your personal information? …Okay, that’s an obvious one. What about: what are some things you do to protect your personal information online? There’s the obvious “don’t post it in the first place,” but that gets harder as a web presence becomes more important.

  • Scott D.

    I’m on it, but I don’t pay attention to it. I find that I prefer Google Buzz to get quick bits of news to friends there and Facebook to keep up on everyone else. (Mind, I’m a late adapter to Facebook and don’t tweet at all.)

  • http://profile.typepad.com/tamara126 Tamara Hecht

    @ Scott You are the first person I have ever heard say they like Google Buzz. (I don’t know; I’ve never used it). What does it do that’s different?

  • Scott D.

    @Tamara – the main thing I prefer Buzz over Facebook for is controlled release of news, commentary, pics. It’s closer to a mailing list in the form of social networking (but not really). I use it differently than how I use Facebook, which is far better to let many people know general news. (Some news I wouldn’t want family know due to naughtiness involved, f’ex.)
    If you’re interested, I can get you added as a follower, with me returning the favour. It’s definitely a more intimate social network.

  • http://profile.typepad.com/tamara126 Tamara Hecht

    No, thanks. I already have quite a few social media collections to keep tabs on, but thank you anyway. :)

  • Scott D.

    I think that’s going to be what Google Plus’s success or failure will hinge on – how many different social media collections people want to manage. It took me an hour to catch up on my RSS feed alone (mind, it’s heavily weighted on feeds from news sources) after being offline for over 36 hours. At some point, either one of the social networks will just not attract anyone or someone will come up with an app to manage all of them (sort of like Trillian was for the different instant messenger programs).