Wow, I’m seeing alot of hate lately since Google+ has broken up (Photos, Hangouts, Streams). It seems that folks are relieved that Google+ is heading towards the social media graveyard but that’s not the case, at least not yet.

According to Google’ official blogpost, a Google+ profile is no longer required to access YouTube and other Google related products, which was a main thorn on users’ side. Google Photos has moved away from Google+’s umbrella into its own entity as well as Hangouts. However, the fact that the social media element is going away has been talked about for so long but it’s not the case at all. It’s in fact being re-purposed as an engagement platform for common interests, I especially will try out the new Google+ Collections. Science, technology, art, business and cooking are among a list of topics that people can join and engage in.

Social media is an organic ecosystem; it either grows, evolves or dies based on its adaptation to a growing digital savvy online population. Yes, we have all dabbled with Google Wave and Buzz and witnessed their eventual downfall but isn’t that what technology is about? Innovation? We’ve all heavily criticized Google+, comparing it to Facebook when it should be considered a niche platform attracting a different demographic. According to Eric Enge of Stone Temple Consulting, there is an estimate of 4 to 6 million users actively using Google+ compared to Facebook’s 1.5 billion and Twitter’s 300 million which I admit is really low but Google has finally listened to the people and this dismantling maybe just what it needs.

Social networks go through alot of growing pains. If you look back, Facebook got into some hot water with their Messenger app violating users’ privacy or Instagram’s questionable method to gain revenue through advertising. Both of these networks responded to their users and have rectified their mistakes so don’t count Google+ out yet or whatever its going to be called next and no I was not paid by Google, just a personal perspective but feel free to share your thoughts on this.

Related articles

• Google+ finally divorced from Google services (stuff.co.nz)
• Google bids adieu to its social network Google+ (thehindu.com)
• Here’s How Much Google’s Indexing Of Tweets Has Grown (webpronews.com)
• Google Plus vs Facebook (business.yell.com)
• Google no longer to promote Google+ as Facebook rival (gizbot.com)
• Google Now Indexing 466% More Tweets, Still Favoring Higher Authority Users [Study] (searchengineland.com)
• Google+ is getting dismantled (money.cnn.com)
• Google+ and YouTube are finally splitting up (computermagazine.com)
• YouTube no longer connected with Google+ (thedroidguy.com)
• Google delinks Google+ from YouTube, other services to follow (medianama.com)