How many of you are using Google +?

Currently, I’ve both Facebook and Google +, but I’m using Facebook.

Wait! I’m not saying Facebook is better, but there’re several factors that keep me stick my Facebook (at least for now)

Note: This’s my personal opinions which you may or may not agree.  =)

At first I wasn’t interested in Google + since earlier, Google tried to promote the Buzz function on gmail.  I saw it, but I wasn’t interested to use it.  Perhaps, I use Gmail for E-mail, not the Social Networking.

Then, later on, some of my friends started talking about Google + and they looked for someone who could invite them to join.  Plus, I started reading some articles about the launch of Google plus and how good it could be.

Wow~ I should try that, I thought.  I finally received the invitation from one of my friends.

I created the account and logged on.  Yes, things look cool, but from then til now, I’ve not really used it.

Lazy to learn

I think the functions of Google plus is very good, and the design is simple but convenient.  That’s always the strong point of Google products; e.g. Gmail, Google Search Engine, and Chrome.  I’m always a fan of Google’s design.  Google + is simple, nice, neat, and looks innovative.  However, I, the familiar Facebook user, am just too lazy to learn new things.  Many people are just used to Facebook too much.  This is not the fault of Google.  I just need some more motivation to learn, but the lack of motivation is caused by the next thing I’m going to say.

Almost none of my friends are on Google +

Yes, I created the account, and I tried to invite some friends.  However, only few of them really started using it, and those who did, they aren’t really my close friends or someone I normally have the interaction with on the social network world.

In the beginning, some people around me were looking for the invitation to use the Google +.  It’s also the talk of the town on some web boards where some people are desperately looking for someone to invite them.

When I really got the quota to invite people, most of my friends already lost the interest

Some of them would ask me back “Is it better than Facebook?”

“Let’s try it out,” I replied

“hm… nah…” or “really? I see ok,” some of them would say, but then I would see them created the accounts and did nothing afterward.

In the first week, I tried to do something with Google +, but since most of my friends aren’t there but still keep using Facebook, it’s just not fun.  More people are needed to create enough interaction on the Social Network to make me addict to it.

I wonder if it’s the right strategy to make Google + as a beta version first.

I’ve been using Gmail since it was a beta version.  I love it and tried to tell other people I know to use it.  That’s fine for E-mail, but not for Social Networking Website.  On E-mail, even though I was one of the limited number of beta users, but I could still contact with any persons whose mail addresses I knew.

On the other hand, the Social Network needs more instant communication.

Before I used Facebook, I had used Hi5.  I moved from Hi5 to Facebook because more people are using Facebook, so it’s more convenient to use it.  I think I don’t need many places for Social Network website if one is already good enough.  My life is busy enough, so I don’t want to handle too many unnecessary things.

Let’s hope that when it’s no longer a beta version, people will start using it more.  If my friends do, I will return to give it a second try.

Now when I saw the news saying Google + is growing rapidly with millions of users and so on, I would feel yeah… many users created the accounts, but how many are actually using them?

Privacy Matter

When Gmail was first launched, some people were worried about Google keeping their private information on the database.  I also tried to read some articles and discussions about it before making a decision to use it.

This may just be my personal impression.  I sometimes feel the information I put on Google stuff may be revealed to the public via Google search engine.

When I used blogspot, I sometimes didn’t want some photos I added to be shown on Google image search.  Eventhough blogspot has many good points, at the end, it’s beaten by wordpress.  That’s why I’m writing here now lol

Back to Google +, yes, I know there’s that smart circle function.  I can categorize the privacy level for each circle and so on, but somehow in the bottom of my mind, something’s still bugging me…. I still doubt it a little….

However, well, even Facebook, some people I know started creating the new Facebook accounts because they feel the lack of privacy in their original accounts.  What if Google + can make this group of people feel Google + can be their new home with more privacy?

In Conclusion

I don’t think either Google + or Facebook is better than the other.  Facebook has the advantages of having many regular users who are familiar of it already.  People have interest to try Google +, but the beta version period might make some of them lose their interest.  Now we’ve to see whether Google + would be able to attract those inactive users back after the full version’s out.  The emphasis on the privacy matter could be a plus to attract more users from Facebook.

I myself am a fan of both Google and Facebook.  I’ve both of them.  Although now my Google + is inactive, I’m still looking forward to giving it a second try.  I’ll wait to see how it goes.  After it’s open for everyone, perhaps for 1-3 months, if it’s still a desert, I might say farewell.  For now, the hope’s still there =)

Lastly, only one Social Network Website is enough….