Google+ positives

After facebook launched the mind-numbing sensory overload called its Ticker … and before the F8 conference announcing Timelines and Open Graph (which helps to make sense of Ticker), in frustration I turned to Google+ as a social networking option.

After just one week as a Google+ user, I haven’t been so overwhelmingly impressed as to leave facebook altogether.  However, there are plenty of positives to Google+.  I’ll share a few.

From a personal standpoint

Google+ offers a much cleaner and simpler visual presentation for the user.

• Facebook verges on sensory overload for me: too many columns presenting too many kinds of constantly changing information.
• Google+ is more like twitter in terms of page display.  It has one simple news feed function, just like twitter.  No stock-market-style ticker with inane reports of clicks, likes, comments, and so forth.

Google+ connections allow, but do not require, reciprocity.

• Facebook requires consent from both users in order for a “friend” connection to be complete.
• Google+ is more like twitter in that someone can follow any of your public posts, even if you are not following them in return.  You may Ignore someone who is following you … or Block them.

You may control who can see what you post.  Google+ and now facebook both allow you to select the audience to whom each of your posts is published and visible.

You may control what shows in your Google+ Stream at any time.

• Facebook now allows you to filter what displays in your News Feed by clicking on any of your Lists.
• Google+ has a similar filter capability.  Just click on any Circle, which temporarily limits your streaming feed to posts by people in that list.
• In addition, Google+ introduces a Sparks function.  Search for a trending topic using the Google+ search.  Once results display, select Save Search.  This becomes a fully private “Spark” that is listed below Circles on your home page.  You may click on this saved search at any time to (temporarily) filter Stream by posts on this topic.

I tried to send a private message to one of my friends yesterday.  It’s not a simple as the interface on facebook.  He did receive the message notification, but there wasn’t anyplace on Google+ that the content displayed.  So that function needs some work.

From a professional standpoint

For privacy concerns of employees and jobseekers, Google+ seems much more sensitive to public/private protection.

• Each item of your profile may be set with its own privacy filter.  You choose who may see what you enter as Marital Status, Work History, Education, and so forth.
• You may choose which (if any) of your posts are public.
• You may limit which (if any) of your Circles are displayed in your public profile.

Any post or comment can be edited in the future.  If you find a stupid typographical mistake one week later, you may correct it.  If you regret your tirade about a coworker one month later, you may correct it (although the damage may already be done by that point, of course!).

You may easily share an entire Circle in a single post.  For example, if you are a jobseeker who has found helpful recruiters and support groups, you may post that Circle to share it with others.

Most exciting from a recruiting standpoint, the HangOut function will eventually allow me to host a free weekly video chat with local jobseekers.  We don’t have to assemble at the same physical location; we can chat remotely from each of our computers (or mobile devices).  Of course, we have to find each other on Google+ first!  =)

The usual social cautions apply, since most people will blend their personal and professional activities on Google+.  Make wise choices about what you post and what is public content!  Since this network is powered by the mighty Google search algorithms, what you publicly make available will be both (i.e., public and available/searchable)!

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