Let the Race Begin (My Article In Governance Now Magazine)

My Following article was accepted by Governance Now magazine, you can find it here:

http://www.gov2.in/stories/let-race-begin

My Article:

A new kid on the social networking scene appeared on Tuesday, ambitiously named Google+. Google’s long expected shot at taking on Facebook. This is one race that promises to be as exciting as any Hollywood action packed flick. It’s the race between the two iconic technological giants of our times.

At first, it looks like Google+ has cleverly borrowed some very good ideas from the reigning king of social networks, Facebook, but in addition offers some exciting features for sharing content and managing privacy. With a reported 700 million users worldwide, Facebook’s privacy practices are the leading issues facing the company and google is going directly after that point with Google+. That won't likely be enough, however, to win the social media battle.

But going by the series of reviews by the critics all round the world looks like Google has the capability to offer a solid alternative to Facebook. Like Facebook, Google+ allows netizens to share photos, messages and comments in addition to a video chat function which is absent in facebook. Google whose previous attempts ended in failure with both Google wave and Google buzz proving unpopular with the users is banking on four special features of Google+ that the company says will resonate well with the social networking audience. (1)Circle: A functionality that allows you to group your friends in to individual circle/group. You can share different content with different circles. (2)Sparks: This functionality connects individuals on the network to others with common interests. (3)Huddle: A type of group messaging. (4)Hangouts: A multi-user video conference.

One critic said that “if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck. And Google+ looks like and quacks like Facebook in several ways.” Google dubs Google+ as a project rather than a product, stressing “it’s part of making google itself more social rather that being a standalone social network”, says the company. So what is it in Google+ that augurs well for its survival against Facebook?

If you have to take my opinion, then it is the ability of Google+ to become a one stop shop for all that netizens crave online using different URLs. Imagine a social network with Google search, Gmail, Picasa, Google videos, Youtube, Google Maps all integrated on a single platform providing you a wholesome package of all your daily online needs. With all those great services and now a tightly integrated social networking platform under one roof, who needs Facebook? Who will win the race?

The answer to this question lies in the future. In fact the race hasn’t even started still; apparently Google+ is not even launched worldwide. But the critics are already out with their daggers. It will also be interesting to see the maneuvers by Facebook in response to Google+. Will Google+ prove to be a Facebook killer? Your guess is as good as mine.