Is anybody using Google+ ?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

I'm trying to decide whether or not to sign up.

Do you like it?

[Lucinda]

1. I have it...but haven't really made use of it yet.

Will give this a kick for you though...

[Poll_Blind]

2. I use lots of Google services but not this one. It just exposes waaaaay...

...to much of what you do in a Social context. I enjoy my privacy and I have had to do battle with the numerous interfaces which control privacy for Google users. Having all that tied together, one service hooked into another and another...it makes Facebook (which I already don't use for the same reasons) look like a privacy dream in comparison.

PB

[dbonds]

9. Actually it doesn't expose anything you don't tell it to.

You have complete control over every small granular bit of your data and can choose which small or big or public circle you post to.

[bananas]

3. I don't even know what it is.

How do you get to it?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. It's still in Beta Testing... you have to have an invite

which I don't have yet, actually.

I'm sure I'll find one in my inbox any day now

[FarLeftFist]

5. If you get in send me an invite

As of now it's a secret society.

[EFerrari]

6. Viva, have you seen Eli Pariser talk about Google

in his BookTV segment?

He talks about how Google creates all kinds of filters in order to "personalize" your experience, which changes the results you get in searches.

I highly recommend this program.

http://www.booktv.org/Program/12551/After+Words+Eli+Pariser+The+Filter+Bubble+What+the+Internet+is+Hiding+From+You+hosted+by+Clay+Shirky.aspx

[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. I haven't seen it, thanks.

I have noticed that I get better results by using a few different search engines.

[EFerrari]

11. The upshot is, the less the search engine knows about you the better

and Pariser points out that "following" accounts on Twitter is right now the most unfiltered way to get information because those accounts aren't filtered before they are delivered to you.

[dbonds]

12. It is still in Beta, and hashtag search still isn't implemented inside g+.

But there is a work around they posted on the g+ blog on how to get the results with normal google web search.

[dbonds]

8. I'm using it. Loving it.

Social done right.

[negativenihil]

10. i'm on it

and loving it's basic nature.

anyway, if anyone needs an invitation, i'd be happy to share.

[HipChick]

13. Yes...

Not as much as facebook though..

[Luciferous]

14. Nope