On Google’s recently released list of the 1000 sites with the most visitors, Facebook unsurprisingly claimed the top spot (but Google is mysteriously absent from that list). Facebook is now commanding 540 million page views a month. The world has around 6 billion people. You do that math. Facebook is the size of something we’ve never seen the likes of. The power of influence it wields in the world of culture, ideas, politics, art, annoying “which Disney character are you” quizzes, and communications is unfathomable. Facebook has the power of information and communication, and that is one territory that Google is the Godfather in. It is inevitable that one will fire the first shot across the other’s wall; Facebook took the first shot by introducing “Facebook Connect” that acts like a search engine which searches sites where people have clicked its proliferated “Like” buttons. Google doesn’t just sit there after someone takes a swing right towards its jaw.
A new fantastical rumor just surfaced that Google is hard at work at something called “Google Me” that’s supposed to be a direct competitor to Facebook. The news came from Adam D’Angelo (no, not that one-hit wonder musician from the late 90s) of social networking site Quora. I know what you’re thinking. What the bejesus is Quora? The fact is it doesn’t matter because it will die off soon like all the rest. But his words are more credible because he used to be a senior manager at Facebook.
Not too much is known about this mysterious, amazing product that Google is working on, but some experts believe that it will be an extension to their Google Profiles page. The Google Profiles are kind of similar to Facebook, but it’s definitely not as polished or easy to use. With this new upgrade to Google Me, there might finally be a challenger to Facebook.
Now if you’ve read this far, you’re probably wondering: Hey Guy de Beaumarché (because of course that’s my real name), you’re a political and economic commentator, so what does this have to do with politics or economics? Well, I would reply: First off, it’s MISTER de Beaumarché to you, jerk. And this has everything to do with politics and economics.
Google is already one of the most powerful companies in the world because they control which sites get visits and, thus, make money from web traffic. Besides selling ads on searches, Google offers services that collect a lot of private information. Imagine this scenario: Google Me becomes more popular than Facebook and Facebook lingers in our memories like Friendster (if any of you know this reference). Google Me seamlessly integrates your Gmail, Google Maps, Google Reader, Youtube, Google Checkout, Blogger, Calender, Google Voice, Google Health (where you list conditions you have, it’s real), and Google Finance altogether in one convenient location. This is on top of the all the personal information you will fill out for your Google Me profile page. Just by what I listed there, Google will know which politicians you like, what movies you watch, what music you buy, which places you visit, what stocks you own, what your email says, what your friends leave you on voicemails, your health conditions, what you opinions and rants are about, and much more. All that information is extremely valuable to companies that want to advertise to specifically targeted consumers. Google will be God of the Internet and every company that wants to make money online will have to yield to it or go extinct.
This will definitely have a humungous economic impact because the Internet is so essential to the global economy these days. Besides changing the face of the Internet and the world economy, the success of Google Me will also create something that is so much more Orwellian: governments will want this type of information to accurately access and spy on public opinion. If any government ever successfully forces Google to hand over that kind of private, personal data about citizens, we will all be praying for the days when Facebook made a few tweaks to our privacy settings.
What do you think about Google Me? Will it be a successful competitor to Facebook? Will privacy die at the hands of Google Me.
I doubt Google can touch Facebook. They tried and failed with quite a few areas: Google Base, Google Auction (if ever), and no doubt they will try to take on what looks good out there. Looks familiar? Yes, Microsoft did it before too.
Google will not succeed; they will probably buy a bunch of companies up but you should see that Google makes money in search. Anything else is going to cost them money instead. So why so cynical?
You are right when you mentioned how many times Google has failed, but this time might be different. Facebook is actively trying to take some food out of Google's mouth with their dive into the search business. Google probably finally sees Facebook as a legitimate threat because of it's user base now.
And Google has never tried to make a full-on, legitimate attempt at introducing a Facebook competitor with all the fanfare. I never ever heard of Google Base or Auction, I don't think trumpeted their arrival very much. Now imagine if Google puts a single link on it's main page "Click here to join Google Me" like it did with the Google Chrome OS (which is now taking lots of market shares).
Plus, you have to admit that the scenario I posed on top where Google brings together ALL its services into one account and profile WITH a good friend-adding feature will be attractive to avid Google and social networking users alike.
That "Like" button from Facebook has certainly been very effective and annoying at the same time. I don't blame Google for their strong reaction to that. Google and privacy? How about Facebook and privacy? They both collect a huge amount of data so I am not sure if Google is *the* evil one of the two.
Honestly, I am sick and tired of seeing that "Like" button. I think sites and people are getting obsessed with that. At least Google doesn't have this feature...yet.
I think this likely as Microsoft overtaking Google in search. Facebook has had such a headstart that Google will spend years playing catch up to today's Facebook technology. By that time, Facebook will be even farther ahead.
It is true that Facebook is light years ahead of Google in the social networking department, but don't forget that Facebook has recently faced privacy issues with users. I read that the Facebook CEO doesn't "believe in privacy", so that could cause some users to defect to Google.
And Google isn't exactly a small start-up starting from the ground up; I can bet you that a HUGE percent of Facebook users also have SOME sort of Google account be it through Youtube, Gmail, Reader, Maps, Finance, or anything. If Facebook is going to fumble with the privacy issue (a huge concern for most users), then Google might have a chance to grab that ball and run with it. People with a Google account can make a fairly easy migration to Google Me and have all their Google stuff in one place.
True that Google is very well *connected* in the areas around that. Privacy or not, it's not going to be the big issue because people choose to broadcast themselves; Google, Tweeter, or Facebook don't force people to disclose. Individuals decide for themselves.
There was a saying back in the days that Microsoft will demolish Google since Google runs on PC's and Microsoft has Office and much more. Look where they are now! I am not saying Google can't succeed, but it's way to early to say anything too certain about it.
I definitely agree that it probably is too early to see how Google Me will do, but it looks like they have a good shot at least.
And the privacy issue I mentioned wasn't aimed at how users have control over their privacy settings on social sites, I was just posing the uncomfortable idea of having all our personal, private data in the hands of one entity. It just seems kind of dangerous to allow an entity to know so much about us and our private lives. Also, what if governments start to utilize the personal data for official purposes? What if someday Facebook/Google Me content can be used to convict someone of a crime? That's the kind of scary use of our personal data I am worried about.
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Google will not succeed; they will probably buy a bunch of companies up but you should see that Google makes money in search. Anything else is going to cost them money instead. So why so cynical?
And Google has never tried to make a full-on, legitimate attempt at introducing a Facebook competitor with all the fanfare. I never ever heard of Google Base or Auction, I don't think trumpeted their arrival very much. Now imagine if Google puts a single link on it's main page "Click here to join Google Me" like it did with the Google Chrome OS (which is now taking lots of market shares).
Plus, you have to admit that the scenario I posed on top where Google brings together ALL its services into one account and profile WITH a good friend-adding feature will be attractive to avid Google and social networking users alike.
I meant the Google Chrome BROWSER, not the unreleased Chrome OS. I'm still hip and with "it" okay??
And Google isn't exactly a small start-up starting from the ground up; I can bet you that a HUGE percent of Facebook users also have SOME sort of Google account be it through Youtube, Gmail, Reader, Maps, Finance, or anything. If Facebook is going to fumble with the privacy issue (a huge concern for most users), then Google might have a chance to grab that ball and run with it. People with a Google account can make a fairly easy migration to Google Me and have all their Google stuff in one place.
There was a saying back in the days that Microsoft will demolish Google since Google runs on PC's and Microsoft has Office and much more. Look where they are now! I am not saying Google can't succeed, but it's way to early to say anything too certain about it.
And the privacy issue I mentioned wasn't aimed at how users have control over their privacy settings on social sites, I was just posing the uncomfortable idea of having all our personal, private data in the hands of one entity. It just seems kind of dangerous to allow an entity to know so much about us and our private lives. Also, what if governments start to utilize the personal data for official purposes? What if someday Facebook/Google Me content can be used to convict someone of a crime? That's the kind of scary use of our personal data I am worried about.
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