Your personal Google+ account is going away on April 2, 2019
Yeah, like I care!
I got email from Google+ team (screenshot below) informing me that my Google+ account and all created pages and content will be deleted very soon.
Well, another Google product turned into a ghost. To be honest, like most of you, I didn't use G+. And I don't mourn his death. But I presume lots of people did use it. And this was one of Google's flagship products. They shut down hundreds of products and services since 2006 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Google_products#Discontinued_products_and_services). Google's Product Graveyard contains lots of acquired competitors. And lots of products were integrated into newer better ones. But there were also some products whose death hurt communities like it was Google Code, Google Labs and famous Google Read.
Basically it boils down to the fact that Google's management decides about some product's life based on profitability. If a product makes low profit they just cut it off. Of course that happens without care about community using that product. They just don't give a fuck about users. They think about profits and yearly stakeholders meeting. And don't forget their bonuses. Upper management loves their bonuses which in turn are based on profits made.
When I think about this I can't forget how powerful are blockchain solutions like Steem is. As long we have community and standing witnesses we will have product, our product. We can call it ours because no manager have kill switch on it. Even screwups like ned's and other greedy persons in our community can't kill it that easily.
Think about it. I am and probably lots of you are heavily dependent on Google products. Like GMail, Drive, Docs and others. Remember that Google can switch off any of these any time or just start charging serious money for using these products and services. How it would feel to lose all your emails and contacts hosted on GMail just because some manager decided that you are not worthy cash cow?
Ha ha, yeah, a great many people have G+ accounts because they had a YouTube account. I think the majority of folks that got their G+ accounts this way quickly decided this wasn't interesting for them and simply ignored it, though I must say that I was aware of some interesting Linux and Kdenlive groups exchanging information that was rock solid. I never used mine for anything else.
You nailed it @onnovocks
The less I have to have with Google the better!
They collect far to much personal information for my liking.
They as you said product here today gone next week if they are not making enough money on it.
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I agree completely.
For example. In next couple of months they will raise fee for G-Suite. It will go from 4€ to 5.20€ per user per month. That's 30% cost raise! Imagine how that affects businesses which have 1000 and more G-Suite users. This looks like they feel that they are "too big to fail".
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Magic Dice has rewarded your post with a 34% upvote. Thanks for playing Magic Dice.
Dear @ericburgoyne
I indeed didn't check your wallet. Will try to keep it in mind (hopefully my memory will not fail me haha)
I was just wondering. I understand why so many people hate facebook. But why do so many seem to hate google - this Im failing to understand.
Did they also sell our private datas to advertising companies etc?
Cheers, Piotr
Google collects just as much personal information as Facebook if not more.
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Hi @ericburgoyne
Thanks for replying to my previous comment. I always appreciate people who engage back.
But do they sell it left and right @ericburjgoyne?
any idea?
Yours
Piotr
Well I search something on Google and for months I see ads for the thing I searched for all over the web. So I say yes they do.
Posted using Partiko iOS
Unless you are a celebrity, it takes much effort and time (usually years) to build up an organic following on social media sites.
A large following in hundreds of thousands or in millions means a lot for a business. I would consider it some kind of property that you can use to generate income for your business besides it being a medium of exchange and influence.
When a social media site like google + shuts down, they are effectively, in one fell swoop, burning down all these properties that have been built by entrepreneurs assiduously, over many years.
Do these entrepreneurs have a remedy against google+ for the losses they would incur, arising from such unilateral decision? This is a legal question for which, I believe, there is no precedent yet. We can only hope that someone would take up the mantle to test the ground.
p.s. Here is a list of the most followed people on google+.
http://www.recommendedusers.com/most-followed-people/
Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking. But as soon as you accept their ToS you accepted being deleted. Otherwise somebody would sue them already.
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@boyanpro, it is not as simple as that.
In the UK they have legislation to protect consumers against unfair contract terms. Most consumer contracts between a large corporation and an ordinary consumer, which are drafted in favor of the large corporations and have no provision for negotiations of terms ("take it or leave it" kind of contracts) would fall under such legislation. Unfair terms favoring such large corporations are set aside and rendered invalid.
In countries where there are no such legislation, the courts have been known to set aside such terms, although the absence of legislation does give rise to some uncertainty until a court decision is made.
In summary, if the contract is entered into in circumstances where the negotiations were not made at arms length (i.e. the parties were not of the same bargaining position), then the courts could render the unfair terms favoring the party in a superior position invalid, either based on existing legislation or based on its inherent jurisdiction.
OK. That's good point. But unfortunately for now they aren't hold accountable for any of these shutdowns. Furthermore seams to be that they will try to make G-Suite clients pay for Google+ expenses.
They are raising G-Suite fee for 30%. Which is ridiculous. It is going from 4€ to 5.2€ per user per month. Imagine how that affects companies using G-Suite for several thousand users. They even advertise that new features in G-Suite will be related to Google+.
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That's why I commented earlier that, "We can only hope that someone would take up the mantle to test the ground."
It would be interesting to see if the people affected by this decision take up class action suits against google in jurisdictions where class actions are allowed.
Love the conversation you're guys having here.
Amazing piece @boyanpro
Love the conversation you're guys having here.
Amazing piece @devann
Dear @devann
This is such an interesting approach. Wow. I didn't think about it ever the way you do. Thx for sharing your view.
Yours
Piotr
Dear @boyanpro
I hope you don't mind this comment as it's a little off-topic.
I'm not sure if you've noticed already but your SP has increased lately. I have managed to get support from a few people who seem to appreciate my work here on Steemit and are interested to see our community grow.
Those 3 guys delegated together almost 4000 SP to a group of around 80 people I support and that includes you! :)
a) majes.tytyty
b) devann
c) boxcarblue
You can check your own delegations using this link:
http://www.steemreports.com/delegation-info/?account=xxxx (xxxx = name of your account)
It obviously took me some time and effort to organize and get them on board. Plus they are using their own resources so ... I can only hope that you will invest some of your own time and effort to show them your support, appreciation/ say thank you etc. And if you enjoy their content then please also try to drop some valuable comment.
After all we need people like them if we want this community to grow stronger. So I hope I can count on you.
In the meantime I'm having a talk with 2 other people and one witness, who may also join my efforts and make some extra delegation :) Fingers crossed :)
Yours
Piotr
Thank you very much @crypto.piotr for giving me your support! I really appreciate it and all things you did for the community!
I don't want to sound ungrateful. But I don't know if you checked my wallet recently. I have more than enough SP since I bought some when the price was around $0.20. I even delegate to some new users. So, this delegation given to me from you and your friends can be used more wisely if you give it to somebody else who is more in need.
Btw, I use steemworld.org for checking delegations and other data. It's more comfortable than the link you wrote.
Thank you again and happy steeming! :)
Dear @boyanpro
Love your comment buddy!
I indeed didn't check your wallet. Will try to keep it in mind (hopefully my memory will not fail me haha)
And big thx for link to steemworld.org. Indeed it's a great tool :)
ps. I was also wondering. I understand why so many people hate facebook. But why do so many seem to hate google - this Im failing to understand.
Did they also sell our private datas to advertising companies etc?
Cheers, Piotr
Of course they do.
Posted using Partiko Android
Yeah! Same here! I too got this mail!
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