What Happened With Google Plus
One of the topics of the day lately has been Google + and the decision Google has made to shut it down. It has been struggling for a long time.
What happened with google +? Google + just could not measure up to the social media big shots like FaceBook, Twitter, Pinterest etc.
Sharing The +1's
Although Google has struggled for a long time, I liked it better than I did FaceBook. I found it easier to give +1's in a shorter time frame than with FaceBook.
I liked how post were side by side and I could just click and keep moving. I read the ones of interest of course, and I would share some as well.
Google had a tendency to make it impossible to like Google +. I had my account suspended probably 10 times.
Not one of those times were because I broke the rules. I would appeal every suspension, and gained my account back.
I have seen others that suffered the same fate as I did. Once you get your hand slapped many times for no reason, you tend to "avoid the situation"
I did just that. I stopped using Google +. I was suspended many times for trying to get my logo and header the right size.
No more plus 1's for me.
Pot Calling The Kettle Black
Do you know why Google is giving up on Google +? I am sure you have read a few post on this topic already.
But did you know why Google has decided to pull the plug on Google +? They had a security breach.
We all know that Google has been hard to please with all the rules and regulations they have.
They are supposedly on top of their security and privacy policies, yet they failed to see reason why they need to notify 500,000 users that were affected by this security breach.
Many of us have our accounts suspended even though we have not broken any rule, but they can't notify their members that their information has been accessed due to a security flaw?
Project Strobe
Because of their concerns about the privacy at Google+ they started Project Strobe at the beginning of 2018. The breach happened in March 2018.
Project Strobe was a review that looked at how their privacy controls were operating and areas where they may need to tighten up the policies.
Google has written a post about this and was issued Oct. 9, 2018. I would really suggest that you read it in order to form your own opinion.
My opinion of it is that Google is acting like any other business who screws up by not notifying their users.
This is how I look at what Google wrote.
" While trying to improve the security and privacy for our users we had a security flaw that may have affected 500,000 users. We ran a detailed analysis 2 weeks before the bug was patched"
So let's see. I am not sure how long the breach had been happening before it was discovered and it appears that neither do they. I could be wrong, though.
They only keep the data for 2 weeks. So that means there is still a time frame that was not going to show in that analysis. Yet they saw no reason to notify users.
Again, I really think you should read the post for yourself. You use Google, so it is up to you to see what they are saying and doing.
What Is In Google's Future
Many of you didn't care for Google+ and some of us didn't see that it helped our business at all.
Google+ will no longer be available to consumers after sometime in August 2019. However, for the enterprise companies, you might get better services than what you have with them now.
I have read the post and think there are some improvements ahead for you. I am sure sou have noticed when browsing that a little box will appear asking to grant the site that you are visit, access.
They are making changes that will give you more control when an app wants to access your data.
I am not sure if the changes that they are making will make for a better secured experience or not. If you have an enterprise, you can be the judge of that in the future.
I know this may be old news, but I wanted to share this information as it might shed some new light on the subject in case some of you have not been aware of what is going on with Google+.
********* If you are new and are wondering if you should still set up a Google+ account, that is totally up to you. You can still gain from it for now. Kyle has taken it out of the training. And yes, that was straight from Kyle himself.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please leave them in the comment section below. I love to hear what you have to say.
Wishing you ALL, the best in all you do
Lee Ann
Recent Comments
23
Sorry, LeeAnn, I am too sad to comment today, I have to put Ollie in the morning. He is my 75lbs poodle. He has been my everywhere I go. This is going to so hard. I don't know what I will do without him. He has been my best buddy. He just got sick so fast. I was not ready for this
Your friend Sandy.
Aww Sandy, I am so sorry to hear this. We think of them as family members and when we lose them, the pain is just as bad .
I will be thinking about you my friend.
Your friend,
Lee Ann
Sandy,
I'm so sorry to hear this, it's so hard when our fur babies get sick and we can't help them. You're in my thoughts and prayers!
Cora
Hi Lee Ann,
Thanks for the enlightenment on Google +. That was one program I have joined years ago but never used.
I guess this is one-time procrastination paid off. (lol) So I have no experience on this subject but am always looking for a good media site to help attract visitors to my website.
Thanks for sharing.
Bill
Lol, that is a great way to look at it.
There is a new platform that a lot of members have been talking about.
I have social media accounts and am not really seeing an increase in traffic.
Some say it is legit because you aren't paying for anything, others are saying it isn't legit.
We shall see : )
Wishing you the best in all you do
Lee Ann
Thanks for the update. I fear however Google's woes are wider than that and alike FB will soon be regulated or even broken up as a monopoly.
Future proves past.
Blessings
Thank you Gabriel.
I must admit that I agree with you.
I can't believe they didn't think they needed to inform their members of the breach.
I lost ALOT of respect for Google after seeing that.
Wishing you the best in all you do
Lee Ann
Thanks for the reply.
I work in the legal field and omissions surely intentional one s are illegal and heavily fined by regulatory agencies plus huge chance to be regulated.
As such, who feels comfortable still going the key to the house of trust to convicted FELONS?
Some still eill do so. Stockholm Syndrome or reckless underestimation of potential of damage to self and even loved ones.
Blessings
I didn't really use Google+ much, but I did post all my new content on there before Fetching on Google. Don't know if it helped get ranked faster or not, but it was another way to get noticed by Google.
Guess I'll have to start getting better with the other social media platforms!
I am with you on that one Janelle.
I just don't see the sense in it when most of our followers are members here.
I know it counts as traffic, but, how many actually CLICK on a post and stay on it to read?
Not that I blame them. There are so many of us and we don't have the time to be active on social media for hours.
I hope something better will come along that will help with both getting traffic and less time consuming.
Wishing you the best in all you do
Lee Ann
I can't say I blame you Elaine.
I could do without it myself, but, I have to do what I can in hopes of success : )
Great to see you my friend.
Wishing you the best in all you do
Lee Ann
You can still use it to gain traffic etc. for now.
But is totally up to you.
Thank you for taking the time for this my friend : )
Wishing you the best in all you do
Lee Ann
See more comments
Yep I agree Lee Ann, Google wanted to sweep these negative issues under the rug. That's ashamed, they wouldn't hold any accountability upon themselves.
Rather than be accountable, they figured better to save face and pull the plug. It was doing much more poorly than the others anyway.
Thanks for sharing this story, LA!
You said it perfectly Kaju.
They suspend members account for much less reason, yet they do something like this.
Thank you for taking the time for this and for sharing your thoughts with us.
I greatly appreciate it : )
Lee Ann
I know! I feel the same way.
McDonalds will never be the same : (
Lee Ann