Will Google+ overtake Facebook? Which will you choose?

[toothy]

Privacy

-That's what I like about Google+. It reminds you if you have posted in the past to a select group. You see, each time you make a post you get to designate who to share it with (select your circle). Your post can be visible to one person or to all, anyway you fancy.

But not to worry - if you think this is cumbersome and you do not want to have to make a choice each time, you can designate a default group/circle to share your posts with.

Circles

-This too is unique to Google+. There is a page that enables you to add, subtract or edit your groups - those that you want to share with, and you label these circles yourselves. This is a cool and convenient way of sharing what you choose with whom you choose.

So - public eyes are kept out of bounds on private matters!

What about you - will you choose Google+ over Facebook? Or is Facebook too deeply entrenched a social networking platform?

[carteki]

Guess it depends how many of my friends move to Google+

You can do exactly the same in FB - just click the little "lock" at the bottom of the post-box and you can select who a post is visible to. Just seems like G+ has taken it 1 step further with reminders and default settings.

[ScoobyDoes]

I might give G+ a crack simply and for no other reason that I don't have a FB account ( ) to worry about. I have GMail, YouTube and Picasa accounts so it might be the next logical step to pull everything together.

[nakatago]

I'm on Google+ but I hope it won't command a lead in the market; I just want it to take facebook down a few notches. That way, Google+ will still have that "being the alternative" appeal to it.

[ksl]

Facebook done a deal with Skype and Microsoft are trying to aquire skype!

[curiousgeorge]

Facebook has access to a few pictures of me drunk and some status update rambling.

Google has access to emails/docs/contacts/calendar/pictures (if I choose to use those services).

I dunno, but it seems like an awful lot of eggs in one basket if you go all-in with Google...and let's face it, they don't have a gleaming record when it comes to privacy issues.

[Asdracles]

Facebook done a deal with Skype and Microsoft are trying to aquire skype!

I was shocked when I saw how much did they pay for Skype.... I downloaded it for free!!

[BillyB]

All the social networking sites are 'wolves in sheep's clothing'. The social experience is a masquerade for the main objective - to gather as much data on you as possible, understand your preferences, predict your likely behaviour, and sell this valuable information. The landscape is even better now as they can identify people with similar interests and 'likes'; shortening the data and consumer intelligence gathering cycle.

The data laws are not clear and they exploit this. I've not noticed this recently, but gmail used to have small banner type ads that change and become more targeted according to the content of the emails you write.
That's quite freaky!!

[nakatago]

The data laws are not clear and they exploit this. I've not noticed this recently, but gmail used to have small banner type ads that change and become more targeted according to the content of the emails you write.
That's quite freaky!!

Google's been pretty upfront about that. They have their algorithms working so that the ads shown to you are relevant to your interests or the current context. They've been pushing projects into artificial intelligence such that you'll only have to think about what you're looking for. So, ads becoming relevant to the contents of your browser tab or window, not so creepy.

But what's creepy/spooky is this prank from 2000 http://www.google.com/mentalplex/ will actually become a reality.

...and about Google being too powerful,

[BillyB]

The data laws are not clear and they exploit this. I've not noticed this recently, but gmail used to have small banner type ads that change and become more targeted according to the content of the emails you write.
That's quite freaky!!

Google's been pretty upfront about that. They have their algorithms working so that the ads shown to you are relevant to your interests or the current context. They've been pushing projects into artificial intelligence such that you'll only have to think about what you're looking for. So, ads becoming relevant to the contents of your browser tab or window, not so creepy.

But what's creepy/spooky is this prank from 2000 http://www.google.com/mentalplex/ will actually become a reality.

Maybe not so creepy if you see where technology is heading. But as an extension to my above point - I read an article about someone getting sacked and someone else refused a Visa to the U.S. because they wrote derogatory things about their employer, and the U.S in a gmail email!!

And I also read that information you use in emails and search can be used against you in discriminatory ways by firms offering you products and services. For example, if you write about or google search something like 'high blood pressure' or 'bad credit', insurance and loan companies can obtain this information from google and 'infer' you have something to hide and build this into your quotes making them more expensive and even unobtainable etc.

[BillyB]

The data laws are not clear and they exploit this. I've not noticed this recently, but gmail used to have small banner type ads that change and become more targeted according to the content of the emails you write.
That's quite freaky!!

Google's been pretty upfront about that. They have their algorithms working so that the ads shown to you are relevant to your interests or the current context. They've been pushing projects into artificial intelligence such that you'll only have to think about what you're looking for. So, ads becoming relevant to the contents of your browser tab or window, not so creepy.

But what's creepy/spooky is this prank from 2000 http://www.google.com/mentalplex/ will actually become a reality.

...and about Google being too powerful,

[nakatago]

The data laws are not clear and they exploit this. I've not noticed this recently, but gmail used to have small banner type ads that change and become more targeted according to the content of the emails you write.
That's quite freaky!!

Google's been pretty upfront about that. They have their algorithms working so that the ads shown to you are relevant to your interests or the current context. They've been pushing projects into artificial intelligence such that you'll only have to think about what you're looking for. So, ads becoming relevant to the contents of your browser tab or window, not so creepy.

But what's creepy/spooky is this prank from 2000 http://www.google.com/mentalplex/ will actually become a reality.

Maybe not so creepy if you see where technology is heading. But as an extension to my above point - I read an article about someone getting sacked and someone else refused a Visa to the U.S. because they wrote derogatory things about their employer, and the U.S in a gmail email!!

And I also read that information you use in emails and search can be used against you in discriminatory ways by firms offering you products and services. For example, if you write about or google search something like 'high blood pressure' or 'bad credit', insurance and loan companies can obtain this information from google and 'infer' you have something to hide and build this into your quotes making them more expensive and even unobtainable etc.

I know people not getting jobs because of what they have on their Facebook profiles. But getting a hold of one's search history from Google itself, I'm a bit skeptical on that one if it happened. Google's received enough flak already for Buzz and WiFi sniffing. They're literally still paying for it (the courts ordered them to). Last thing they want is selling that kind of information.

I say, be careful about you do in the Internet like you should too in real life. Be wary of danger but don't believe everything you hear.

[ScoobyDoes]

I dunno, but it seems like an awful lot of eggs in one basket if you go all-in with Google...and let's face it, they don't have a gleaming record when it comes to privacy issues.

They have a much better record than FB

[billym]

The comparison I think would be inevitable but in terms of social network success, I think Facebook still has an advantage. I mean, google+ looks complete, comes packing a lot of new stuff and all but Facebook is just up there. Though, the trend would die down and probably have google+ get the upper echelon. But with google+, it will make sure of a more lasting user base with the incorporation of a lot of google services. If more people become exposed to it, they would probably be used as a note or office tool.

[Venomrush]

I have been using Google+ for a week. I wouldn't changeover because:

1. It seems more like Twitter, can't post to a specific friend.
2. It's not user friendly
3. All my friends are on Facebook, I have 2 on Google+..to get them to Google+ they need a Gmail or Google Account
4. All photos and posts are on Facebook, there is no way to merge or transfer over. Everyone starts from scratch.