my thoughts on Google+

[sofiaviolet]

My profile is here. Yes, you can add me.

So far, I really like it? But really, I think xkcd nailed it - it's Facebook but not Facebook. (Although, alt text aside, I think I would have much better luck getting my mom to use Plus - she already uses and more or less understands Gmail.)

Other than that, IDK. It's a social networking site and I tend to prefer journaling. But it seems to allow for pretty meaty posts and comments, so yay for that. I can see myself actually using it (as opposed to Facebook, where I... read my boyfriend's status updates because I miss him).

I have four problems with Google+ so far, two of which will probably get resolved, one of which is not a major problem for me but is for other people, and one of which I really hope will get resolved but it might take a while.

1. No usernames, so the urls for profiles are long and unwieldy.


2. No Mac clients that I've found so far. Currently, I use a multi-service client; I am hoping that it adds Google+ support (so I don't need to download and learn a new app). My computer is just old enough that running multiple clients has a noticeable impact on performance; if a standalone Google+ client comes out before a multi-service client and I like that client enough and enough of my people begin using Google+ - I will more or less disappear from Twitter and Facebook.


3. Policy on pseudonyms. I'm pretty safe because my pseud could be someone's legal name (in fact, I spent most of my teenage years after selecting said pseud convinced I would change it in court one day). But this issue matters a lot to a lot of people for a lot of reasons, and if Google does crack down hard on pseudonymous accounts it will impact the shape of my social circle and the kinds of things people are sharing in a way that will bind Google+ to its "Facebook but not Facebook" status and prevent it from becoming anything better in my personal constellation of internet services - if that happens I'll probably just wander off and quit using it. They also force users to make their gender selection public.


4. Only open to @gmail.com-style Google accounts. Google Apps for Organizations doesn't have access to Profiles and therefore those accounts can't use Plus. I don't have a profile set up for my professional identity (I like to maintain some online presence under my legal name so that people looking for that aspect of me find something and aren't as motivated to digDIGdig) because that Google account can't use Plus. And, should my "real" account gain access to Plus, yay, but I will need to move everything over; I kind of doubt Google will set up some shiny "move your shit between accounts in two clicks" process.

In short, I like Plus and I'll keep playing with it even though my situation makes it way more annoying than it should be. If you'd like me to try and invite you, shoot an email to sofiaviolet@sofiaviolet.com (not the Google account you'll be invited by, but I'll get your email sooner!) or PM me on Dreamwidth and I will attempt to make it happen.