Why I Love Google+

There are 5 main "features" I like that Google+ offers which neither Facebook nor Twitter do or do well. Let's jump in:

1. Share Information with Groups easily using Circles:

On Twitter, anything I post is available to anyone with an internet connection. On Facebook, everything I say is shown to nearly 'everyone'. That includes friends and relatives who don't give a damn about my postings of my blog or any other mundane crap I decide to say. If I decide to post about a party going on in Nashville, anyone outside of the Middle Tennessee area can careless. Also, as you might imagine, only very few of my Facebook friends actually care about my technology mumbo-jumbo.

With Google+ circles, it's easy for me to divide my friends/family by location or any other means I plan to group them. You can somewhat do this in Facebook, but it's not as streamlined and easy as Google+!

2. My information is MINE:

Anything posted on Facebook is co-owned by Facebook. While Google tracks nearly everything we put on the interweb, their Terms of Service states, "You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or displayon or through, the Services." That's what I'm talking about!

3. Video Conferencing:

I've only used it twice as of this post, but Google+ Hangouts is fun! In addition to video conferencing, I can jump right into Google Chat as well. Facebook has its own Chat, but I prefer the capabilities of Google.

A new feature which I recently tried was the YouTube function. You can watch a YouTube video in real-time with your friends within the Hangout. Google also plans on utilizing other video streams in the future, which would be great for the corporate market.

4. Google+ Sparks:

When you become a fan of or like something on Facebook, Facebook streams ads relevant to your likes. Even though I may like Linkin Park, I don't need my inbox getting filled with daily messages!

Sparks on the other hand gives me related articles, blogs or whatever subject I'm interested in from around the net instead of stores that want me to buy a Linkin Park album.

5. If I leave Google+, my information comes with:

It's a pain in the ass getting all your information out of social networks such as Twitter and Facebook. Hell, sometimes it's not even possible! With Google Takeout though, I can download my entire Google+ archive whenever I want. So if for any reason Google+ tanks, I can grab my data and go elsewhere.

There are many social networks that popped up to be the so-called Facebook Killer, but Google+ is the first I've seen that has the potential to dethrone Facebook. Google+ isn't perfect, but then again Facebook isn't either.

If you'd like to have an invite into Google+, send me your Gmail address to keval.sheth86@gmail.com and I'll be sure to send an invite right over.

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