Key Takeaways
- Google+ provides a unique feature called Circles, which allows users to control who they share information with, merging the mutual relationship model of Facebook and the unidirectional model of Twitter.
- The Google+ stream is similar to Facebook’s news feed or Twitter’s stream, but allows users to control what they see based on their Circles.
- Hangouts, a video conferencing feature, is one of the most impressive parts of Google+, allowing multiple users to join and leave the conversation at will, creating a more social and flexible experience than traditional video calls.
- Despite its potential, the Sparks feature, which provides feeds of information based on defined topics, lacks effective content curation and could be improved with integration from Google Reader.
Circles
Circles is a foundational feature of Google+, and it’s what makes it so different from other social networks — and bridges the gaps between them. With Circles, you control who you share what information with, making mutual relationships where intimate information can be shared, Facebook-style, a possibility, while still allowing the unidirectional model of Twitter that allows you to follow people you find interesting without them having to follow you back. The interface for organizing your Circles is pretty cool too, but I don’t think it’s the animations that’s blowing people away. If I want to make a post that is viewable only by my family members, I can. If I want something to be viewable by the public, that’s possible too. There are no “all or nothing” scenarios here as there are with Facebook. This means Google can perform the roles of both Twitter and Facebook and puts it in a very powerful position.
Stream
The stream is where you can view incoming information. It’s much like the Facebook news feed or your Twitter stream, but Circles gives you control over what you’re looking at here — it’s not just for deciding who to share content with. In the screenshot below I’m viewing content that has been shared by people I know from my role at The Next Web . I can easily jump between Friends, Family, Acquaintances, or the Following Circle that’s like a bucket for interesting people I’ve never met. As is the de facto standard today, the stream updates in real-time. There are some issues that Google engineers are actively working to fix — old posts tend to float to the top more easily than on other networks.
Sparks
Sparks is billed as one of the main features of Google+ but doesn’t get as much airtime at the moment. That’s because it’s one of the few areas where Google seems to have not invested much effort into creating something truly useful. Sparks are feeds of information based on defined topics, but if you take a look in the screenshot below where I’m looking at the pre-defined Spark called “Films” there’s no curation to the content. The second result has something to do with a sniper shooting a civilian who was filming him in Syria — tragic, but not exactly what I’m thinking of when I want information about recent films. This feature could be a lot better. It could make discovering and subsequently sharing interesting information a breeze, but not until the results are much better. This would be a perfect place for some sort of integration with Google Reader, where the content has already been curated by both publishers and subscribers.
Hangouts
Hangouts is one of the most impressive parts of Google+. The underlying technology isn’t that incredible — we’ve had Skype video conferencing for years. But Hangouts can handle ten or twenty people at a time without problems, and more importantly, it’s not the technology but the execution that makes this feature impressive. Video calls need to be arranged and specific people need to be called in, but with Hangouts, anyone from selected Circles can drop in and out. It’s an evolving social space like your local bar, not a rigid call structure, and that distinction is important. It makes Hangouts pretty revolutionary.
API
No doubt you’re wondering: when’s the API coming? Google says it will be here soon, and if they’re telling the truth they’ll have introduced an API much faster than Facebook did. It’ll be interesting to see what sort of apps come out of Google+ that weren’t possible using other social platforms. There have been clues that Google+ Games is coming, and rumors that there’s a partnership with social gaming giant Zynga involved. Will Google+ be the next platform for casual game developers to tackle? We’ll have to wait and see, but I’m leaving at the first hint of Farmville spam. What do you think about Google+?Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Google Plus
What happened to the photos and videos I had on Google Plus?
Google Plus was officially shut down by Google in April 2019. As a result, all the content, including photos and videos that users had uploaded on the platform, was deleted. However, Google did provide a window for users to download and save their data before the shutdown. If you didn’t manage to save your data, unfortunately, it’s no longer retrievable.
Can I still access my old Google Plus posts?
No, you cannot access your old Google Plus posts directly since the platform has been shut down. However, if you had backed up your data before the shutdown, you can access it from your saved files.
Is there any way to see the public posts from Google Plus?
The Internet Archive and the ArchiveTeam have been working to archive public posts from Google Plus. You can visit the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine and search for the specific URL of the Google Plus post you want to view.
How can I access the archived Google Plus communities?
You can access the archived Google Plus communities through the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine. However, please note that not all communities or posts may have been archived.
How can I find all of my posts on Google Plus?
Unfortunately, since Google Plus has been shut down, you can no longer access your posts directly. If you had downloaded and saved your data before the shutdown, you can find your posts in your saved files.
What has replaced Google Plus?
Google has replaced Google Plus with Google Currents for its G Suite customers. Google Currents is designed to facilitate communication within organizations.
Can I still create a Google Plus account?
No, you cannot create a Google Plus account as the platform has been shut down. Google now offers Google Currents for G Suite customers as a replacement.
What happens to the Google Plus links that I shared?
The Google Plus links that you shared will no longer work since the platform has been shut down. They will likely lead to an error page.
Why was Google Plus shut down?
Google decided to shut down Google Plus due to low usage and challenges involved in maintaining the platform. There were also concerns about user data privacy.
Can I still use Google Plus for my business?
No, you cannot use Google Plus for your business as the platform has been shut down. However, Google offers Google My Business, which allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps.
Joel Falconer is a technical content strategist. He has been managing editor at SitePoint, AppStorm, DesignCrowd, and Envato, and features editor at The Next Web.