Google+ (pronounced and sometimes written as Google Plus /ˈɡuːɡəl plʌs/) is a social networking and identity service[3][4] that is owned and operated by Google Inc. Google has described Google+ as a "social layer" that enhances many of its online properties, and that it is not simply a social networking website, but also an authorship tool that associates web-content directly with its owner/author.[5] It is the second-largest social networking site in the world after Facebook. 540 million monthly active users are part of the Identity service side, by interacting socially with Google+'s enhanced properties, like Gmail, +1 button, and YouTube comments.[6] In October 2013, Google counted 540 million active users who used at least one Google+ service, of which 300 million users are active in "the stream".[1][7][8]
In a 2013 survey, 30% of surveyed smartphone users used the Google Plus app at least once a month.[9] 92% of US smartphone users had visited a Google web site or app in August 2013, according to another survey.[10]
History[edit]
Creation[edit]
Google launched the Google+ service as an invitation-only "field test" on June 28, 2011,[11][12] but soon suspended early invites due to an "insane demand" for new accounts.[13]On August 6, each Google+ member had 150 invitations to give out[14] until September 20, 2011, when Google+ opened to everyone 18 years of age or older without the need for an invitation.[15][16] It was opened for a younger age group (13 years or older in US and most countries, 14 or older in South Korea and Spain, 16 or older in the Netherlands) on January 26, 2012.[17][18] Google+ is available as a website and on mobile devices.
Before the launch, Google referred to Google+ as Google Circles, a name alluding to its emphasis on organising friendship information.[19] Google+ is considered the company's fourth foray into social networking, following Google Buzz (launched 2010, retired in 2011), Google Friend Connect (launched 2008, retired by March 1, 2012) and Orkut (launched in 2004, as of 2013 operated entirely by subsidiary Google Brazil). Sources such as The New York Times have declared it Google's biggest attempt to rival the social networkFacebook,[20] which has over 1 billion users.[21][not in citation given]
Growth[edit]
| Date | Users | Days Later |
|---|---|---|
| October 29, 2013 | 540 Million | 2 years[6] |
| Sep 18, 2012 | 400 Million | 1 year[22] |
| Dec 21, 2011 | 150 Million | 6 months[23] |
| Jul 22, 2011 | 25 Million | 24 days[24] |
Even in private beta, Google+ achieved rapid growth reaching 10 million users just two weeks after the launch.[25] In a month, it reached 25 Million.[26] In October 2011, the service reached 40 million users, according to Larry Page.[27] Based on ComScore, the biggest market was the United States followed by India.[28] After nearly three months of operation, it hit 50 million users, whereas other social networking sites such as MySpace took 1,046 days to reach that level; Twitter 1,096 days; Facebook 1,325 days; and LinkedIn 2,354 days .[29] by the end of the year Google+ had 90 million users.[30] According to Experian Hitwise, an Internet metrics firm, the number of U.S. visits to Google+ surpassed 49 million during the one-month period ending December 11, 2011, a 55% increase from the one-month period ending November 11, 2011.[31]
According to independent analysis of its growth in December 2011, the site was adding an estimated number of 625,000 new users a day, which may total 400 million members by the end of 2012.[32][33] Reported in February 28, 2012, while Facebook users average 7.5 hours on the site per month, Google+ users are spending roughly 3.3 minutes monthly on Google+.[34] As of May 2013 Google+ users are spending roughly 7 minutes on the social site. These numbers do not include traffic via apps.[35]
Mobile App[edit]
In just under a day in July 2011, the Google+ iPhone app became the most popular free application in the Apple App Store.[36]
User base[edit]
There are currently 540 million monthly active users across Google Properties and 300 Million active in the Google + Stream.[1][7][8] Google+ user base is roughly 60% male and 25% female as of November 2013. The remainder are "Other" or unknown.[37] Early adopters of Google+ in mid-2011 were mostly male (71.24%), and the dominant age bracket (35%) was between 25 and 34.[38] An August 2011 survey estimated that 13% of U.S. adults have joined Google+; it was projected to have 22% of U.S. adults in a year.[39]
On January 26, 2012, teenagers were finally able to create a Google+ account. The age limit had previously been 18, but in response to widespread and unprecedented demand on the part of American teenagers to be permitted to create a Google+ account, Google's Vice President for Product Management Bradley Horowitz eventually relented and announced on Google+ that users as young as 13 would be allowed to join the popular social networking medium.[40]
Identity Service[edit]
Starting in November 2011, Google+ profiles are used as the background account for many Google Services including YouTube, Gmail, Google Maps, Android, Google Play, Google Music, Google Voice, Google Wallet, Google Local and more.[41][42] As of January 2012, Google Search is customized with a feature called Search Plus Your World, which inserts content shared on Google+ profiles and brand pages under Web Search results, if one is logged into their Google+ account while using it.[43] The feature, which is opt-in, was received with controversy over the emphasis of Google+ profiles over other social networking services. The feature builds upon the earlier "Social Search" feature which indexes content shared or published by authors; "Social Search", however, relied partly upon returns from non-Google services, such as Twitter and Flickr. Google and Twitter had a contract that expired in July 2011 which is the reason Tweets are no longer shown.[44]
Website[edit]
User Profile[edit]
A Google+ User profile is a public visible account of a user that is attached to many Google properties. It includes basic social networking elements like a profile photo, about section, background photo, previous work and school history, interests, places lived and an area to post status updates.[45] It also includes several identity service sections, such as a contributor and other profiles area that let one link their "properties across the web". These section optionally link to other social media accounts one has, any blogs one owns or have written or sites one is a contributor to. This area is used for Google Authorship.[46][47] Customized or Vanity URLs were made available to the public starting on October 29.2013 to any account that was 30+ days old, has a profile photo and at least 10 followers.[48]
Circles[edit]
Circles is a core feature of the Google+ Social Platform. It enable users to organize people into groups or lists for sharing [49] across various Google products and services. Organization of circles is done through a drag-and-dropinterface. Once a circle is created, a Google+ user can share specific private content to only that circle, Work themed content can be shared with only work colleagues, family could sees more personal content and photos for example. The option to share Public or with Everyone is always available.[50] Since September 26, 2011 users can share Circles; it's a one-time share, so if the creator of the Circle updates the members, people's shared copies won't be updated.
Another function of Circles is to control the content of one's Stream. A user may click on a Circle on the left side of the page and the Stream portion of the page (the center) will contain only posts shared by users in that Circle. For the unsegmented Stream (includes content from all of a user's Circles), each Circle has a "slider" configuration item with four positions: nothing, some things, most things, and everything. The nothing position requires the user to select (click on) the Circle name explicitly to see content from users in that Circle. The everything setting as its name implies filters nothing out from people in that Circle. The remaining two positions control the quantity of posts which appear in one's main Stream, but the algorithm controlling what shows has not been disclosed.
Stream[edit]
In the "Stream", which occupies the middle of three columns on the page, users see updates from those in their Circles. There is an input box which allows users to enter a post. Along with the text entry field there are icons to upload and share photos and videos. The Stream can be filtered to show only posts from specific Circles.
Hangouts and Hangouts On Air[edit]
Hangouts are free video conferencing calls with up to 10 people, done through the Google+ website or mobile app. You are also able to use many apps inside the hangout, allowing users to share documents, a scratchpad or their screens with other users. As well as many built-in apps such as YouTube, Google Docs, and the new Capture. 3rd Party apps built using the Hangout API are also available[52]
- Mobile Hangouts supports Android 2.3+ devices with front-facing cameras which have been available since September 20, 2011. As of July 10, 2012 Google+ users on iOS are able to use Hangouts on iPhone and iPad.
- Hangouts On-Air gives users the ability to create instant webcasts over Google+. The broadcasts can also be recorded for later retrieval. This feature, announced on September 20, 2011, is limited to some videocast personalities, but the announcement indicates that it will be opened up. The first publicly broadcast Hangout was with The Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am on the night of September 21, 2011.[53] The feature became available at a large scale on May 7, 2012.[54] The feature is not available to users under age 18 or from China, Thailand, and Vietnam.[55]
+1 Button[edit]
Google+ has a "+1 button" to allow people to recommend sites and parts of sites, similar in use to Facebook's Like button.[56] The amount of +1s a website has, has been correlated to higher Google search rankings.[57]
Google+ Pages[edit]
Google+ Pages was launched on November 7, 2011 to all users, which allows businesses to connect with fans.[58][59][60] It allows entities which are not individuals (such as organizations, companies, and publications) to set up profiles, or "pages", for the posting and syndication of posts. It is similar to Facebook's similarly named feature.
Google+ Badges was quietly rolled out to select enterprises beginning November 9, 2011 and officially released to the public on November 16.[61] Badges are sidebar widgets which embed "Add to Circles" buttons and drop-down lists into off-site websites and blogs, similar to Facebook's Like Box widgets. This was officially treated by Google as a replacement for the older Google Friend Connect and its widgets, and GFC was announced by Senior Vice President of Operations Urs Hölzle on November 23, 2011, as scheduled to be retired by March 12, 2012 on all non-Blogger sites in favor of Google+ Page Badges.[62]
Communities[edit]
Google+ Communities: Released December 6, 2012, Google+ Communities allow users to create ongoing conversations about particular topics.[63] Google+ Communities can also be created and managed under Google+ Page accounts.
Events[edit]
Google+ Events: Released at Google I/O on June 27, 2012, Google+ Events allows users to add events, invite people, and then share photos and media in real-time from the event. The program is integrated with Google Calendar, and is posed as a direct competitor to similar features offered by Facebook.[64]
What's Hot[edit]
"What's hot" Stream, introduced on October 27, 2011, is a stream showing what Google+ users have commented, shared and interacted with the most. It is similar to "Trending Topics" On Twitter.[65]
Google Local[edit]
On May 30, 2012, Google Places was replaced by Google+ Local, which now integrates directly with the Google+ service to allow users to post photos and reviews of locations directly to its page on the service. Additionally, Google+ Local and Maps also now feature detailed reviews and ratings from Zagat, who was acquired by Google in September 2011.[66]
No comments:
Post a Comment