Why Google should have stayed out of social networking
The problem with Google Buzz is that it basically tracks and consolidates EVERYTHING that we do on the Internet. In this, it reminds me of the ill-fated Facebook Beacon.
Because Google has so many fantastic and free products — Picasa, Google Reader, Gmail, Blogger, YouTube, Google Voice, and on and on — many of us are using them. All of them. Up to this point, they were distinct and separate websites and tools. The only time we really saw our activity on all of them linked together was when Google launched Dashboard — which was billed as a way for you to easily adjust your privacy settings across all the Google properties.
Dashboard was private though, for the individual user’s eyes only. Buzz is the public version.
All day today, the buzz on Buzz has been, “Whoops. I didn’t realize that was going to appear here.” Buzz is drawing in what we’re recommending on Google Readers, new photos uploaded to Picasa, status messages on Gchat, comments on YouTube, a new entry on a personal blog on Blogger, and on and on. It’s forcing us to share everything with those following us. As fellow T/Ser Marc Flores wrote, it’s just-too-muchery.
And as one of my Buzz followers put it:
Basically Google Buzz publicly broadcasts your every move on a Google property.
Of course, there is an easy solution, as The Awl points out. Go into Gmail, scroll to the bottom, and turn off that Buzzing noise:
Though I, for one, haven’t turned it off. I fear being left out of the conversation.
And despite the initial discomfort, Google Buzz may end up being a wild success, because of its feeding on and into our intense narcissism: that every little thing we do is Buzz-worthy.
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This made my head spin more than google wave. The confusion stemmed from the purpose of it all, rather than what it was doing.
Google Buzz is actually doing the thing everyone complained Twitter was doing. Now I actually do know what people are having for breakfast…and lunch…and dinner…and all the whatevers in between. Congratulations, Google. You’re making Twitter look all genius-y.
And like Twitter, I’m now getting follower spam. I have yet another service to block people from…
In response to another comment. See in context »Okay.
A) I woke up this morning and my mother-in-law had Buzzed at me. First sign that things were going wrong.
B) I then began to experience an ongoing “tic of desire,” seeing the numbers scroll upward as to how many BUZZES I was missing out on. I had to look. And when I did. I was bored.
C) Finally, I decided I really needed to turn this shit off. But I couldn’t figure out how. Six hours later, I read this, and realize that I should have just asked Kashmir.
I like buzz in that I don’t much like twitter and this could potentially be better, but google shot themselves in the foot by opting every single gmail user into both the program and including all google activity in your feed by default; and by automatically adding anyone you’ve e-mailed or chatted with.
My best bet now is that that move will generate enough negative buzz to kill the idea before it gets off the ground.
The funniest thing was that it retroactively added the last post I made on my blog several months ago when I connected that site to my feed.
In response to another comment. See in context »Have you heard of Twitter or FriendFeed? Compared to FriendFeed, Buzz is rather limited (thus far) in what it can pull in. Buzz may confuse and overwhelm the author, but I think it’s pretty damn nifty, and I’ll not be taking your advice to shut it off.
I’m not advising turning it off. As I note, I’m not.
But I’m just recognizing that complainers have the option to leave. Some people weren’t aware that they could turn it off.
In response to another comment. See in context »Your post neglects to mention that you can control which sites you connect to your account. If you want to stop sharing your blog, turn that part off, etc. It’s quite easy. You are still in control of what you put out there. Additionally, you can control what you see by choosing who to follow and removing those you no longer wish to follow. It is still in your hands as the user.
All in all, Buzz has potential, but does need some tweaks. I see it developing more as social reader, than as merely a network. Google, in my view and interactions with Buzz, is not trying to replace Twitter and Facebook (social networks) outright. Further, Buzz is not a Google version of Facebook or Twitter, as some have argued.
One of the key elements Google emphasized was the ability to “connect sites you already use”. This will likely continue to expand beyond the current, to Facebook, Tumblr, Foursquare, Yelp, etc, all within the control of the user to connect. Buzz is more of a social element in the Google system as opposed to a stand alone network. Google is emphasizing content and conversation, over profiles (which is a primary staple of Facebook). Sharing news, ideas, and elements of interests between connections, and beyond, including recommend posts – this is the backbone to Buzz. Conversation is key. This is the nature of a social web, as opposed to just a network and will likely be the overall development, or how I will use it anyway.
Just my thoughts.
http://trueslant.com/kylebrady/2010/02/10/the-buzz-of-googles-buzz-isnt-just-buzz/?utm_source=alertsnewpost
I have say, Kashmir, that I think you’re wrong, and I wrote about this a bit yesterday: http://trueslant.com/kylebrady/2010/02/10/the-buzz-of-googles-buzz-isnt-just-buzz/#
The point of Buzz is that you put into it what you want – yes, some of it is automagically included, but you have control, entirely unlike Beacon. More importantly, what Google has done here is essentially an open+Google version of what Facebook’s Feed, Friendfeed, and numerous other sites have already created and popularized.
If you don’t like it, that’s fine, but I would warn against slamming it as you have done, simply because it’s not as privacy-invasive as you’ve claimed.
–Kyle
I did read your piece (and linked to it yesterday), and I do think that Buzz has potential, as I note at the end of this article.
I will likely adjust to it with time — as I do to most privacy-erasing technology developments… in fact, I usually embrace them. For me, Buzz was just too much too fast. I realize Wave was a flop, because it was not forced upon us, but I wish the Buzz roll-out had been a bit slower and better thought-out.
(And my slam was gentler than some: http://fugitivus.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/fuck-you-google/)
-Kash
In response to another comment. See in context »Oh, I didn’t realize you had already read and linked to my piece… sorry!
I think I just felt like the overall tone of this was way too harsh for what it really is, I suppose. I’m sure you’ll come around though!
–Kyle
In response to another comment. See in context »I’m a little concerned that I don’t know what this is or if I have it and am using it. I didn’t know that Skype kept all my friends up to date on what I listen to iTunes.
I’ll spend some time today trying to figure out whether I am sending out teeny, tiny little brainwaves into the ether. If the sound of my voice is whispering in all your heads, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.
Gmail pulled-in lots of boomers and beyond with a promise of simplicity and transparent ease-of-use. All they wanted was free email. With Buzz pulling information the way it seems to be doing, it is a huge bait-and-switch with the potential to do lots of harm to some people. Buzz changes the default for email from respectful privacy to cavalier openness and all that is being lost makes me sad.