I am choosing to write about the announcement by Google last week that they will be allowing anyone to email a Google+ members or gmail account holder, even if they don’t know the email address. I think this is already an established Web 2.0 technology and that Google is trying to introduce an innovative technique. (Here is a link to the NY Times blog posting on the subject: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/09/gmail-plans-to-allow-google-plus-users-to-send-anyone-an-email/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0.) Google has stated that this feature allows you to email someone you know, without first having to ask them what their email address is. It seems the general populace and media, however, has had a knee jerk reaction of “spam alert”!
I personally believe that Google is grasping at straws to build up it’s social network. A quick survey around the office this morning showed that while many of us have Google+ accounts, we don’t use them. We all said that we really only have time and inclination for just one site (the consensus was Facebook). I think that for a business to have access to all those valid email addresses without having to purchase them from a list could be a large boom for them – but it could also be a double edged sword if they choose to send messages that are just more ads as well as messages that smell “spammy”. They could send out emails to join conversations existing on Google+ or other social media sites. They could also email out mass marketing notices. However, since the future of the Internet has always been difficult if not impossible to see, it is entirely feasible that this feature could generate an idea for use that would spur great interactive communication between a business and it’s consumers. I think a business would be wise to offer freebies and coupons along with an “opt-out” if they were going to attempt to leverage this new feature, rather than run the risk of everyone and his cousin quickly disabling the feature. The NY Times blog post I read also mentioned that Google has had issues similar to this in the past (Buzz was mentioned) and was fined by the FCC.
That all said, I (along with many others) have concerns regarding privacy. I don’t like the idea of anyone and everyone being able to have access to my email address. I get enough spam as it is. If it’s someone that actually does know me, they can already find me on Facebook or LinkedIn, frankly. Google has addressed this by saying that gmail account holders can turn the feature off in their settings – although I have yet to see when that feature will appear in order for me to do so. I also wonder how many users won’t be aware of the change, or will not understand or be able to change their settings so that strangers cannot email them. -
Wendy
I agree! I set up a gmail email address to use for the sole purpose of when I was looking for a job. I knew that only those related emails would go there and I would not receive any junk or anything else there. My nice clean inbox runs the risk of getting taken over!
ReplyDeleteHi Theresa.
DeleteI think the announcement said that the messages would go into your "social" folder. (A few months ago or so, Gmail changed the inbox to "primary", "social", and "promotion".) I don't want spam going into my social section, either, though - that would mean strangers intertwined with my Facebook messages!
-w
I think you are misreading this announcement. Only people who already follow you on Google+ would be able to contact you. That is similar to the functionality on Facebook. There is a privacy setting on Facebook which, when engaged, limits who can send you a message. Mine is set to Friends and Friends of Friends. Yes, it is tedious searching for the setting but the people who are highly concerned about maintaining their privacy will read the email on how to turn the feature off.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if you use gmail already, you'll know that the inbox is segregated into categories, with Google separating out the incoming "Promotional" emails into a different tab. I tend to ignore that tab and read only the messages in the primary tab, occasionally going through the promotions to delete them in bulk. Google's gmail is also highly effective at weeding out spam - a feature I love since my email is out there on a lot of different forums.
What I got out of this article is that Google is trying REALLY hard to be real competition for Facebook in the social media arena.
Hi Kaetwo.
DeleteThe main issue with the Gmail announcment is that they are making the default setting that anyone (even outside of your circles) can email you. You have to be informed enough to go change that setting yourself - which we know from the past many users will not be aware or capable of changing.
Not only do I want spam in my social folder, I also don't want it in my promotions folder, either. That would mean it would be even harder to go through that list looking for good sales and groupons. :P
I agree that Google is trying very hard to be the main player in social media, but so far, they are taking one mistep after another. IMHO. :)
-w
Thanks for sharing Wendy. I wonder if you are right, Google is trying with the whole social media. I am new to this stuff. I just never really go into. Reading about the announcement was interesting, the technology today is so sophisticated they are always innovative.
ReplyDeleteIt is a pretty neat concept but then anyone can email and the privacy is gone. I don't think I like it, if I understand correctly.
Cari
Cari,
DeleteIt sounds like we're in the same boat. Most of the folks I know are only on Facebook, so that's where I am, and I don't have time to add any other sites - I sometimes don't get out to fb for a couple of weeks when work is nuts. I get the feeling that Google is grasping poorly at straws and that they are too late to the game. Time will tell, though!
-Wendy
Double edge sword is right. A new business should want to utilize as many options available to reach its consumers or potential consumers, but if not controlled or used correctly could get one blocked or relegated to junk status which defeats the original purpose.
ReplyDeleteThanks, TeeJJames!
DeleteIn this day and age, folks seem to be even less tolerant of privacy loss, and it boggles my mind that companies aren't sensitive to that.
-Wendy
Hi, Wendy:
ReplyDeleteA great summary of Google+'s plan. I have a gmail account that I use for a medical support group and not much else. I, like you, use Facebook and visit my gmail account about once every couple weeks. It has served me well for that purpose, but the idea of receiving random, unrelated e-mails from people I don't want to hear from is really irritating.
Although I understand their angst to catch up, I think they should follow Kerpen's suggestion and consider and think like their customers. As a gmail user, I was completely unaware that Google+ was even considering this. To discover it later I think would be a good reason to shut the Google+ account totally down.
Thanks for the information/warning.
Carolyn
Hi Carolyn.
DeleteI too was pretty shocked when it hit the morning news a couple of weeks ago that Google was going this route. You are right - they are not thinking as a customer would!
-Wendy
Thanks for sharing. With social media changing so rapidly, I was make sure to check my privacy settings for all social media sites. I check to see if anything has changed with the settings and I do this at least once a month.
ReplyDeleteHi Christine.
DeleteIt does seem like all these sites change faster than is humanly possible to keep up, and disturbingly common seems to be adding "features" that require users to have the knowledge that they must go and check/change their privacy settings!
-w
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ReplyDeleteWell! Maybe Google does have a chance to jump in and gain the leading edge. I just found an article regarding a Princeton study that says Facebook should trend to lose 80% of users!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nbcnews.com/technology/facebook-infectious-disease-will-lose-80-percent-users-says-princeton-2D11972165