Google is Social Media

Written by C Bret Campbell | 27 January 2012
Posted in Business

Social Media Exchange

Written by C Bret Campbell  | 26 January 2012 vol. 3

Google Is Social Media

It's been another wild ride on the social media roller-coaster, this week. everytime I opened my email or rss feeds there was a new article about Facebook going public ( i.e. - an initial public offering of stock in the company  )in the near future. The on-line news was full of stories about the impact social sites had on the apparent demise of the controversial SOPA and PIPA bills -- pay attention, though, we all know how things have disappeared from the legislative table only to re-appear in the dead of night a few weeks later as finalized law.

What got my attention this week, though was Google's new privacy policy. Google has cut a path through the SM forest big enough to drive a jet through (betcha thought I would say "truck"). Google Plus (commonly G+) began with private invitations in May of 2011 (this author is pleased to have been among the first ten thousand users - a 1st generation user), and opened to the public in late July. As of December, they reported 62 million users, and the number is growing by several million per month. This is the fastest growth any social site has ever seen! Ya, ya, ya, but what about the privacy policy?

I'm getting to it, but let me clue you in on a few things, first. Google offers well over 60 different services. They began with the world's largest and most complete on-line search engine. Now, they offer everything from "ad-words" and calendars to online document creation, site design, and G+. You tube is part of Google. G-mail has become synonymous with "e-mail". Google maps, and Google earth are two of the busiest services around, shoot they even have an on-line flight simulator that is as good as any. Each and every one of the G-services had a unique privacy policy, until now (actually, the new rules don't completely go into effect until March).

The new Google privacy policy will streamline use of their services. It is the same across the board, with a few stricter definitions in areas of Ad-words and analytics. The language is simple and easy to follow, and the fine print is not quite as fine. As the email they sent to their registered users (there is a difference between a casual user and a registered user ) states: "Protecting your privacy hasn't changed -- Our goal is to provide you with as much transparency and choice as possible, through products like Google Dashboard and Ads Preferences Manager, alongside other tools. Our privacy principles remain unchanged. And we'll never sell your personal information or share it without your permission (other than rare circumstances like valid legal requests)."

Some have criticized Google. A small group of net services have even launched a politically motivated suit against the Big G claiming they operate a monopoly. It's a frivolous suit sponsored by sore losers, if you ask me.

Google has truly become Social Media. They have made it simple to share video, emails, blogs, pictures, and almost anything you can imagine across the web. Through one log in, you can read your email, watch the video your aunt included in it, "favorite" it on your You tube channel, share it to G+, and invite a new friend to join. If that's not social media, I don't know what is.

And now without further adoo - this week's social media tip. Wait-for-it....

Read the privacy policy! Before you sign up for any web service, read the legaleze. Yes, it's boring. Yes, it's confusing. But, more importantly, it's Important! Google has simplified theirs. I wish all net services would follow suit.

Have you read the new "G-Privacy"? Let me know your thought on on-line privacy by commenting when this article posts on www.tsinews.com (don't forget to read the privacy policy). If you have questions about Social Media, feel free to e-mail them to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or add C Bret Campbell to your circles on G+, I'm easy to find, like Tigger, there's only one.

Have a great and safe week on the social web, I'll see you there.