So, first things first. I don’t know about you but I think I came to the Google Plus party late and am right in the middle of a Google Plus geek out. I say right in the middle but in truth I could just be right at the start of this Google Plus adventure. Read on.
My first few weeks on Google Plus have been stellar. The level of interaction is refreshingly engaging, and, somewhat “high brow” when compared to the typical Facebook or Twitter interaction. In the first few weeks I’ve been prompted to write a post on “Have We Hit Peak Social Media based on discussions found on Google Plus. I’ve also become acquainted with some Google Plus powerhouses like Mike Allton, Dustin Stout and Dino Dogan and it was one of these three who then turned me on to Demian Farnworth from CopyBlogger and I eventually found his post about Google Plus Authority which really got me thinking – is IT going to be permanent?
Google Plus – is IT Permanent?
Google Plus
In the CopyBlogger post Demian talks about how Google are creating the “social layer” over search results or S+YW (Search + Your World) where YW influences the search results you’d normally see based on who you know and have interacted with (and probably a myriad of other factors, crafty folk at Google).
Will what we do online, unwittingly, become the fabric of our online being?
Not only this but the search results being displayed will also be influenced by Google Plus Authority, or, the reputation that someone has on Google Plus based on their circles, interactions, posts, re-shares, etc etc. This Google Plus Authority will follow the user around the web and so, in theory at some stage, all web based use could filter into your Google Plus Authority. And, so, then my question – is IT permanent?
Will what we do online, unwittingly, become the fabric of our online being? Will our extensive search history and browsing habits somehow merge with Google Plus? Undoubtedly what Google are trying to do is to more accurately model the real world with the online world and if they have access to all this search data, which is then linked back to a user account, what’s to stop them from creating full online identity of you? And, if they do, will this online identity be permanent? Is Google Plus the missing piece in the Google puzzle which will allow them to make that leap and somehow have one permanent, comprehensive, online representation of Google users?
Would love to hear your thoughts below, or, unsurprisingly, on Google Plus (go on and circle me!). Also, feel free to share this post with some of your friends with the share buttons on the left, the more feedback, the better!