Neville Hobson March 28, 2012 Business, Google+, Innovation, Social Media, Technology, Web

Big Google disruption

+The Next Web reports that Google is planning to launch a commenting system to rival that of Facebook’s.

[…] The Google comment system … will have deep links to Google’s network of services and websites, indexing comments in Google Search, and most significantly, the system will be available for use on third party sites. […] A third party Google comment system would ensure that users are further plugged in to their Google accounts, and one step closer to Google+.

I wonder if Google would bring their embryonic video commenting (as seen in video status updates on Google+) to the broader web. That would be interesting.

Overall, this looks to me more of an immediate threat to well-established third-party commenting systems like Disqus. And, overall, a disruptive effect on an attractive market.

Embedded Link

Google to launch third-party commenting platform to rival Facebook
Google is about to launch a new commenting system that will tie into the search giant’s Google+ platform, web services and web search, a source close to the product’s development confirmed …

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Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.

16Comments

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1

Peter Bowyer on March 27, 2012 at 21:57

Been reading / discussing this all day – I reckon this will be huge. Tight integration with social search, embeded in your WordPress blog….
2

Shel Holtz on March 28, 2012 at 03:25

I saw this earlier today. It seems Google has stopped innovating and has focused on copying Facebook. It's actually kinda sad.
3

Peter Bowyer on March 28, 2012 at 06:25

+Shel Holtz I totally disagree. This is a social search play and will enhance Search Plus Your World, surfacing blog posts and comments along with what's already there.
4

Neville Hobson on March 28, 2012 at 07:05

+Shel Holtz really Shel? On the contrary, I think this is potentially a huge disruption. And in any case, since when did Facebook (or anyone else) have a sole claim on innovation in this space?

I'm wondering what the effect would be if Google commenting included video, eg, as in status updating on G+. No idea what the tech challenges are to roll that out across the social web, but imagine if they did.
5

influencepeeps on March 28, 2012 at 08:21

RT @jangles: Big Google disruption http://t.co/zIH2J26a
6

jenicantle on March 28, 2012 at 08:34

[Google getting closer?] “@JimConnolly: RT @jangles: Big Google disruption http://t.co/g8lvaAIg”
7

Dominic_Tyer on March 28, 2012 at 09:16

Big #Google disruption http://t.co/L1dEtdUI
8

French_Adverts on March 28, 2012 at 09:39

RT @JimConnolly: RT @jangles: Big Google disruption http://t.co/z7d2IiFV
9

Shel Holtz on March 28, 2012 at 12:47

Just what I want, +Peter Bowyer — for search to produce even less relevant results than it does now under SPYW. I know I can turn it off, but 99% of people searching aren't even aware it's the default. Relevance to me is not what people I know are saying in the most tangential way; it's what Google did before. Whereas I used to find what I was looking for on the first one or two SERPs, I'm now scrolling through eight or 10 pages to find it.

+Neville Hobson , I wasn't suggesting Facebook had a monopoly, nor that nobody can improve upon what they've done, only that Google seems intent upon competing in social to the extent that it is corrupting and reducing the value of their core product. God forbid the asinine comments left to YouTube videos began showing up in my search results!
10

Peter Bowyer on March 28, 2012 at 13:16

+Shel Holtz Fortunately Google gives us each a button to press to exercise our preference – I sometimes dont want SPYW results either, but it's easy enough to toggle.
11

Shel Holtz on March 28, 2012 at 13:23

Yes, +Peter Bowyer, and I use it, but as I say, the vast majority of users will main clueless as to the fact that their search algorithm has been monkeyed with and that the toggle button is the cure. Inside the fishbowl, we pay attention to these things. Outside? Not so much. The average user will simply see less pertinent results.
12

Neville Hobson on March 28, 2012 at 13:35

A pretty negative perspective +Shel Holtz :) I certainly don't see it as bleakly as you. I look forward to seeing what a commenting system looks like, assuming the rumour has foundation. Will it be like Facebook commenting or competing with it as The Next Web report says? Two answers: who knows yet, and probably yes.
13

Shel Holtz on March 28, 2012 at 14:02

Oh, I assume it'll be competing with it. It may even be better. It could bring peace and prosperity to the world. Whether it's awesome or not, it's still Google keeping its eye on competing with Facebook rather than innovating new and exciting products. The best of Google is what nobody had ever done before (like Docs, Google News, etc.).

It's worth keeping in mind that Google is #1 in search, but not in anything else it has launched. You'd think they'd want to innovate rather than simply try to do what someone else is doing with improvements. Remember when Google gave 20% of staff time to blue-skying new stuff? Now it's clear: the mandate is "Beat Facebook." I'm not saying good things won't come of it. I'm just saddened by the new products that break new ground we'll never see because of this focus.
14

Neville Hobson on March 28, 2012 at 14:20

+Shel Holtz ok, noted! Still, I think Google is innovating and this idea is another example of that. Personally, I don't care if it's better than Facebook commenting or not as long as it's useful, is easy to use, and works well. The latter may or may not not be the case at start – everything is beta, right? – but that's ok, we know what to expect.

Looking forward to more experimenting!
15

Shel Holtz on March 28, 2012 at 15:18

To me, the best innovation means doing something somebody else hasn't done before or, at least, completely reinventing it (as Apple did with the MP3 player and the mobile phone). Google did that with search. They did not do it with Google+ (but they did with Hangouts). So how the commenting system works out remains to be seen. I can't say I'm on pins and needles waiting for it, though.
16

Neville Hobson on March 28, 2012 at 16:01

+Shel Holtz fair enough re innovation. My expectation isn't so black and white, eg, I'm happy when I see someone doing something really well, possibly differently/better (take your pick) than others who've already done whatever it is. I think they're doing tremendously well with Google+, innovating even! I'm very much looking forward to seeing what Google do with commenting.

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