Back in June of 2011, I became one of the first to test & use Google’s (then) new social media network, Google+.
I immediately fell in-love with the platform as a way to connect with intelligent users, and have meaningful conversations around our shared interests. Back in the day, it was everything that was good about Facebook, without all of the noise (it was never the place to go to see what some old “friend” from high school had for breakfast, thankfully).
I almost instantly made (great) new friends who shared my interests in digital photography, aviation, cooking, technology, and more.
I honestly don’t think there was any other platform that came close to matching its power to connect you with others who shared your passions.
At the time, the platform’s leader was Vic Gundotra, who not only understood the engineering behind Google+, but who made for one hell of an evangelist. Under his stewardship, the platform literally exploded with “interesting” people because he made it fun, and “the place to be” for intellectual discussion on almost any topic.
When Vic left Google in 2014, the platform began to unravel, and quickly. Google being Google, nobody ever stepped up to take his place, and nobody remaining seemed to understand “social.”
I could go on-and-on, and not explain that early “vibe” better than David Amerland did in his Medium Post earlier today. David’s an awesome author, BTW — Be sure to check out his latest book, “The Sniper Mind.”
Another article that addresses the platform’s history (and mistakes) not quite as politely as David did, is this one from Mashable.
Regardless, Google today (predictably) announced that Google+ is finished.
I’ve been on Google+ long enough to have read the writing on the wall.
One bad decision after another, after another on Google’s part, caused most of the “interesting” users to leave long ago.
I’d still check-in occasionally to see if the once great platform still had a pulse, but it was getting harder and harder to find one as Google rushed to dig its own grave.