Google launched their first major foray into social networking recently with Google Buzz, a social networking and messaging tool integrated into their hugely popular Gmail email service. It is designed to link up the social aspects of several of Google’s products such as Picasa, Flickr, Youtube, Google Reader, Blogger and Twitter. Each time the user posts something while logged in to their respective profile on these sites, the update is shared on Google Buzz.
However, Google Buzz has been met with distinctly negative views from both the general press and the more technology press. Buzz’s intrusive nature has led to several outcry’s over possible privacy concerns. Buzz’s lack of originality has also been highlighted.
I fully agree with these criticisms, and personally think Buzz was an unnecessary step by Google. I mean sure, there is great revenue to be had in the social networking market, but there just isn’t that much more that could be done with a social network. And that sort of revolutionary innovation is what is required to knock the all-powerful Facebook off it’s pedestal, which has so far seen off all comers to it’s throne. Google is pretty much the king of most other areas of the web and I think this is one bridge, that not even they can cross.
