Is Google+ still a thing?
Short answer: Yes, technically, but…
But what does that mean, exactly?
Google Plus, or Google+, launched in 2011, was the search giant’s attempt to create a robust social media platform to take on Facebook and Twitter. At its peak, over 400 million users created accounts on the platform, making it one of the most widely used social networking sites at the time.
Why did Google + fail to gain traction as a mainstream social network?
There are several reasons that contributed to Google+ fail to gain traction as a mainstream social network:
Limited user engagement
Despite its initial impressive user count, engagement numbers were poor. Many users didn’t find the service engaging enough, and active users left.
Difficulty in replicating Facebook
Google+ tried to go head-to-head with the dominant social media platform in the world, Facebook, which already had a decade-long head start. Going up against a behemoth like Facebook was always a tough challenge.
Confusion over the platforms’ roles
Google users were unclear about the boundaries between Google+, Google’s social platform, and Facebook, their professional network. Overlapping features and confusion often led to user frustration
Security and third-party API issues
One of the most significant controversy surrounding Google+ was exposed in October 2018, where it was uncovered that Google+ hadn’t informed users that certain APIs could be used for data harvesting, effectively creating an inherent risk for user accounts. In response, Google announced changes to make user data less visible and updated its policies governing data usage.
Continuous updates and changes
Consistently, Google struggled to settle on a comprehensive strategy and design for G+, leaving users and industry experts in limbo wondering what Google+ was there for, and how do I, as a new user, get started).
Lack of monetization
Despite potential for ads, Google lacked a compelling monetization scheme for Google+, leading partners to turn away
On March 12, 2019Google announced that it would wind down** efforts on the consumer version, effectively marking Google+’s decline>
Is Google+ Really Dead?
Despite not being as popular as Facebook, Twitter,Instagram, Snapchat, and Discord, there are still 100+ million active sessions on the platform per hour, suggesting that some part of it still lives.
So is Google+ still a thing? Yes, in ways:
Yes, but… (in an enterprise setting")
Google still maintains Google Drive, which is closely interconnected with G+, offering capabilities like integration with other Cloud-based products, sharing within groups and teams, enhanced collaboration through Google Docs/Gmail), and Google has been exploring ways to combine Google+, Google Drive,
Yes, even for new users
Those who don’t mind that the once-promising 1B+ user-aiming social platform did not flourish, might notice that while the overall structure of G+ is reduced, core features and compatibility remain: sharing content articles, photo albums, albums, YouTube videos, with a subset of features not accessible)
**Android app users still active»
As **Android users kept the G+ Android app around
, and to this day, Android owners can use the app – although new features have never been updated since the Consumer version).
In summation
While Google Plus no longer holds attention as it once did
• Some aspects still retain life:
• In company settings where Google+ for GSuite is utilized).
• Limited user base; though less than the first wave
• New apps, compatibility, and access to other products’ content. For all intents and a purpose,
• Yes the platform may be alive at some capacity, yet an end was marked, Google Plus won’t make an impact in** mainstream usage>>