22
Jul
Five Ways Google+ Could Save Itself from Obscurity
… and how [for now] google+ is more of an advanced form of email than it is a new social network.
1) Switch from “push” to “post”
“Circles” seems at first to be a feature that organizes your friends into separate (and thus) high functioning social groups. However, communication (i.e. community) within these circles is actually only realized within “hangouts,” which, coincidentally, exists completely independent of whether you have circles set up. Aside from hangouts your only method of communication is to choose an audience and share content. however, this content does not become a public forum like a “post” on facebook does, which brings us to point 2…
2) Make circles consensual. somehow.
As it stands, circles are not real, delineated groups. They are, in fact, reductive syllogisms and, as such, set-logic nightmares (e.g. you’re my “LA friend” but I’m your “acquaintance” and we’re both talking to John who is my “family” and your “college friend,” while we’re both his blanket “friends”). Without circles being mutually agreed upon, they cannot be addressed directly. For instance, I cannot say “hello family” and have it make sense to both
