I finally went on Facebook and got a Twitter account. Now Google comes out with yet another try at social media. Who cares if they failed on Buzz and Wave? I’ve seen way too much over the top hype in tech news about Google+. I’ve read the new app is a Facebook killer all the way down to Google+ is the same as Facebook. Google opened its new social media to beta test (field trial) to tech industry bloggers and media mental giants. OK that was sarcasm; mental giant has nothing to do with tech bloggers or media people. You can do a Google search and come up with a million scams involved with Google+ invites. Rest assured, the world does not need to get a private invite to test drive the new social media application. It’s not ready for prime time, but it is ready for hype. That is why those knuckle heads are screaming/extolling all the wonderful things about Google+. I’ve seen a million screen shots and read at least a billion tech bloggers predicting death to Facebook. The others are all still yawning waiting to light the fire under the first billion after nothing much changes. Google did score in publicity using a limited beta test approach. Here is the official URL for the Google+project: https://plus.google.com/up/start/?sw=1 The page clearly shows even all the invited folks can’t get on. I was not upset when Google did not send me an invitation. All I need is yet another social media website to visit. Do I need to insist my entire family (nearly 100 people) become a new member on Google+ when it goes public? Not NO, but hell no! Why would a family need to change? Because Google+ is cooler? Give me a break.
Businesses may find they have to manage things including Google+ someday if they want to reach out to all social media. That is another cost for business and another way for Google to monetize their advertising goals. Ummm, “what did I just type?” Oh yeah, Google can make more money off their free service. The great digitizer in the cloud wants to collect more information to make money on. ”Do you think that is fair John?” ”Sure it’s fair just like when Microsoft developed Windows Operating Systems.” Well maybe not as fair, or ummm it could be, but I doubt it. Actually every company large or small needs revenue to actually meet the cost of doing business. Naturally, everyone needs to make money by using social media. Corporate interests meet and seduce new customers through social media. Individuals can monetize their social media experience as well. How will mom and pop make money by keeping track of their children, grandchildren, and the like? They won’t, they just give their social media experience up to the likes of Facebook or Google to use to make money. I’m not making money from typing my thoughts on this free blog service. The folks who host it will though, that is a fact of life. I’m not bugged by that fact. I am bugged by so many people going so wonky over something that will not add to an individual’s life one bit. Of course, those wonky people will benefit, so that is where the rub is for me.
