Rocketship.fm
Product Failures: Google+
Feb 13, 2020
This podcast explores the downfall of Google Plus as a social networking platform, including its challenges of competing with Facebook, issues with privacy and monetization, and the eventual shutdown following a major glitch. It also discusses the importance of focusing on existing user base and addressing internal cultural issues for success in the social media industry.
28:12
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Quick takeaways
- Google Plus struggled to attract genuine users and faced issues with spamming, in part due to questionable product decisions like the mandatory use of real names.
- Despite reaching 500 million users, Google Plus failed to address user concerns, lacked organic growth, and ultimately shut down in 2019 after security flaws exposed private information.
Deep dives
Struggles of Google Plus
Google Plus, launched in 2011, attempted to compete with Facebook but ultimately failed. With inflated user numbers due to clever growth hacking, it struggled to attract genuine users and faced issues with spamming. Questionable product decisions, like the mandatory use of real names, further frustrated users and marketers. Despite reaching 500 million users, the project was shut down in 2019 after security flaws exposed private information. Reflections suggest that a more organic approach, supplementing existing social networks and focusing on Google's user base, may have led to a different outcome.
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