The Battle of the Social Network Stars: Google+ vs. Facebook
Theresa Coates
Introduction
On September 20, 2011, a new player entered the billion dollar game of social networking. This opponent is not a rookie to the social media sport. Google+ has entered the competitive arena with “circles”, “hangouts” and “sparks” to challenge Facebook’s “friends”, “walls” and “likes”.
Google+: A Quick Look (YouTube)
The Development of the Social Network
Industrial media (newspapers, TV and film) businesses are expensive (Social media, Wikipedia, 2011). Social media through technology is inexpensive and easily accessible. Social networking sites such as Facebook and now Google+, are one type of social media. The personal computer’s main purpose is to provide communication and information (Steinberg, 2008, p. 519). Social Networking opens the door to interacting and sharing photos, journals and friends. Kirkpatrick (2011) reports that less than 8 years after launching, Facebook has 750 million users (p.75). Facebook partners with Microsoft to use the company’s inventory of ads for most of its revenue. (Facebook, Wikipedia, 2011).
Industrial media (newspapers, TV and film) businesses are expensive (Social media, Wikipedia, 2011). Social media through technology is inexpensive and easily accessible. Social networking sites such as Facebook and now Google+, are one type of social media. The personal computer’s main purpose is to provide communication and information (Steinberg, 2008, p. 519). Social Networking opens the door to interacting and sharing photos, journals and friends. Kirkpatrick (2011) reports that less than 8 years after launching, Facebook has 750 million users (p.75). Facebook partners with Microsoft to use the company’s inventory of ads for most of its revenue. (Facebook, Wikipedia, 2011).
In June 2011, I was introduced to Google+ (Plus) or G+ as an invite-only service. The company was testing the product before its formal opening to the public on September 20, 2011. According to Reddit Technology’s comment forum, Google + had approximately 40 million users on September 25, 2011.
Coates 2
Analyzing and Explaining Google +
Google+ and Facebook have essentially the same purpose for their members; offer a profile and create the ability to communicate with other members online. The differences are emerging daily as the battle for the dominant position in social networking continues. Facebook may have the Microsoft giant by its side for the advertising, but Google+ is operated by Google Inc, a super hero in social media.
The Google+ invitational only offering in June, 2011 created a buzz in the technology world. These select group of individuals became the first members of the network. Google+ allowed the rejected potential users to view a “quick look” presentation and video peek to hold interest until the product was opened to the public. Google’s Learn More website (2011) shows potential members the highlights of the Google+ “quick look” including “real-life sharing, rethought for the Web”, connecting your conversations, links and photos with specific circles of people. The tutorial website also explains the feature of circles for family, work, acquaintances and even untouchables, that are safeguarded communication with only designated groups. Genius Geeks (2001) explained a Google+ feature called “Sparks” that provides video, articles and information to members based on their interests. Google+ does provide members a new feature not found on Facebook: Hangouts.
Skype, a video chat service, bought GroupMe for $50 billion in August 2011. Kirkpatrick (2011) reports that GroupMe, debuting only one year ago, “enables you to send a single text or make one telephone call to a group of 25”. (p. 76) Tony Bates, CEO for Skype, says his company is “the number one form of communications” for companies.
Coates 3
The technology world is adjusting to allow individuals to communicate at work or at home in groups. The “social power” cry was heard by Google (Kirkpatrick, 2011, p. 72). Google’s Learn More (2011) website states that Google+ offers video chat for up to nine people at once. Skype may have some competition with Google+s spontaneous video chat while members are “hanging out”.
Benefits of Google+
At the present moment, if a military service member is deployed, his choice of communications include letters, random phone calls, emails, social media (Facebook) and Skype. Skype enables users to talk and see each other. Imagine the morale boost to the military if they could talk and see up to 9 people in one interaction as Google+ offers. This multi-member use feature would also be advantageous to civilians and business members as well.
Jorge Armand (2011), wrote in Arbitrage Online Magazine that Christian Oestlien, Group Product Manager at Google, posted a blog in July 2011 stated that the company has accelerated its development work on Google+ for business. Facebook quickly launched “Facebook for Business”, nothing too different from the old fan pages used for businesses in the past (Armand, p. 7). The jump to the starting line may be a sign that the 700 million user Facebook is watching Google+ very carefully. Google+s privacy flexibility is the big advantage over Facebook, allowing members to keep personal photos and information separate from business associates. Incorporating existing Google products, such as Google Maps and now the group video chat (hangouts),
Coates 4
would be beneficial to businesses using Google+. Google has infiltrated many types of social media.
Legal Issues
Google Inc., is a popular search engine, who owns Blogger, Google maps, YouTube, Gmail and much more. When a company gets too big, the government takes notice. Diane Bartz and Malathi Nayak, Reuters (2011) reported that on September 21 2011, Google appeared before the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee Meeting about charges of search engine dominance stifling competition. Google will be investigated for its business practices. Microsoft was scrutinized in the past for similar concerns.
Ethical and Social Issues of Google+
A study by the Amsterdam School of Communications (2006) investigated friend networking sites and the consequences of adolescents’ self esteem and well-being. Psychologists are concerned that our youth are becoming anti-social from spending their free time on a computer or phone instead of personally interacting. The Amsterdam study concluded that “positive feedback on the profiles enhanced adolescents’ social self-esteem and well-being, whereas negative feedback decreased their self-esteem and well-being.” (Valkenburg p. 1) Sherry Turkle’s “Alone Together“, (2011) sees hope for the youth on the threshold of “the robotic moment” who are rediscovering the human purpose in each other. The youth of today are exploding into the future with a wealth of information through the social media. They will have to learn self control and time management to regulate this bottomless pit of technology.
Coates 5
Security and Hurdles of Google+
Google+ earned recognition for increased privacy features in separating communication and information within designated circles of fellow members. The challenge for Google+ will be to recruit members from Facebook or co-exist with them in the social media market. I compared my Facebook account with my new Google+ account. At this time, when setting up your Google+ circle members, recruitment from only a select group of social medias is allowed. Facebook is excluded from this choice group. This limits the number of additional members that can be added to Google+. Facebook members can sign up on Google+ but can not be notified by an existing member.
According to Google+ Wikipedia (2011), China is the leader in social networking members, but the country has banned Google+. This social network is in its infancy with changes happening daily. Facebook had bumps on its road to success. The members questioned the ownership and security of their personal information and photos. Speculation of a fee based membership is rumored in the public. Facebook walls posted complaints of a modification feature combining top and most recent stories. Despite these obstacles, Facebook continues to survive in the social networking world. Google+ will have to endure the growing pains in the competition arena with Facebook to stay in the game.
Coates 6
Bibliography:
Armand, Jorge T. (2011, September 13). Businesses expected to benefit from new
Google+ features. ArbitrageMagazine.Com Retrieved from http://www.arbitragemagazine.com/general/google-1business-2profiles-3include-cutting-edge-features-3/
This article highlighted the future of Google+ in the business world.
Bartz, D. & Nayak, M. (2011, September 21). Reuters: Eric Schmidt Defends Google at Senate Antitrust Hearing. Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/21/eric-schmidt-google-antitrust-senate_n_974343.html
Report from Reuters on the recent legal concerns of antitrust issues with Google.
Bertoni, S (2011, September 21). Mark Zuckerberg Joins top 20 Richest On Forbes 400.
Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2011/09/21/mark-zuckerberg-joins-top-20-richest-on-forbes-400/
The September 21, 2011 top 20 Richest Americans shows Facebook’s Zuckerberg at $17.5 billion and Google’s Sergey Brin and Larry Page at $16.7 billion each.
Facebook. (n.d.) Retrieved September 29, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook
Searched wiki contributions for dates and public perspective and references cited.
Google+. (n.d.) Retrieved September 29, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google%2B
Searched wiki contributions for Google+ for dates and referenced cited.
Coates 7
GeekyNotes. (2011, July, 2011). Genius Geeks. In Google Plus Guide: All you need to
know about Google+. Retrieved from http://geekynotes.com/2011/07/google-plus-guide/
Article provided details on features of Google+.
Google Inc. (Producer). (2011, September 19). Google+. [Audio Podcast]. Introduction.
Retrieved from (at 1.28 on track)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1JagF4t0tJk
Quotes from individuals trying Google+ with feedback and positive opinions as a tutorial.
Google Inc. (n.d.). Google+. [Fact Sheet]. Retrieved from
http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/
The tutorial introduction in the “invite” only stage from June 2011 to September 19,
2011. I t explained the new service briefly with a video.
Kirkpatrick, D. (2011, September 26). Techonomy: Social Power and the Coming of the
Corporate Revolution. 188(5). 72-81. Periodical.
Discusses the rise of the social media in societies, especially the business world is effecting employees and customers.
Social Media. (n.d.) Retrieved September 29, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media
Searched wiki contributions for public perspective on social media.
Valkenberg, Dr. Patti M., Peter, Jochen, & Schouten, Alexander P. (2006, October).
Friend Networking Sites and Their Relationship to Adolescents’ Well-Being and
Social Esteem. Cyber Psychology & Behavior, 9(5), 584. Retrieved from http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2006.9.584
The study on adolescents and the impact of social media on their well-being and self esteem.
Coates 8
Weinerk, (2011, September 25). Reddit technology - Google Plus
[Online Comment Posting] retrieved from http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/kqtm8/google_plus_aprox_40_million_users_as_of_92511/
Chatter on Google+ in a popular social media site.
Young, J. (2011, January 14). Programmed for Love. The Chronicle of Higher
Education. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/article/Programmed-for-Love-The/125922/
Sherry Turdle, ethnographer from MIT, studied the effects of social media on our youth. Her fears were that they were becoming “robotic” due to lack of socialization with people face to face.
Steinberg, G. (2008). The Impact of Computing on Society. Botsford, Georgia, &
Lynnette M. Rogers (Eds.), Introduction to Computer Information Systems (pp. 517-
519). Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
Our class textbook had a good summary of social media and types of communicating on computers.
