Can Google Break The Domination?

This blog was first published on February 12th at http://happydude88.livejournal.com/

         

On Wednesday, Google launched its new social networking service, in a bid to break the domination of Facebook and Twitter.

Google Buzz will allow users to share personal updates, videos and photos and anyone who has a Google Mail account has already been automatically signed up to the website. However, can Google break the domination that Facebook and Twitter have enjoyed of recent times?

Last week, Facebook celebrated its 6th birthday and announced that it has over 400million users, a staggering statistic from when it took off in February 2004 and everyone said it would be a horrific flop. In the last 18 months, Twitter has joined in by becoming a hotbed for celebrities to tweet messages on their whereabouts to obsessive fans.

Honestly, I can’t see how Google is going to be able to keep up with these two powerhouses. Both Bebo and MySpace have basically been seen off by Twitter and Facebook and as far as I’m concerned, these two social networking sites were in a far stronger position than what Google Buzz is. I would actually say that it’s a desperate move by Google, in an effort to keep some of its consumers satisfied. Facebook has certainly raised its concerns over whether this attempt will be a success and have retaliated, by updating its messaging service and giving everyone an easier-to-use homepage.

I think Google Buzz is another shortcut version of social networking and I can see the idea fizzling out within months. It will have to take something to overcome the Facebook/Twitter craze and this isn’t it. Buzz basically does exactly the same Facebook does – only maybe slightly easier. However, with less information and applications around, then what benefit is it going to be? Possibly, to people who haven’t decided that social networking is for them yet, but I do urge people not to ditch Twitter or Facebook or Buzz, otherwise you would be making a mistake. Despite being the most visited website, thanks to its outstanding search engine, and with one of the fastest web browsers around today, I think this is going to be, strategically a gamble for Google that isn’t going to work. The Facebook/Twitter domination will be around for some time to come.