Google+#Google+ Pages

Google+ was the company's fourth foray into social networking, following Google Buzz (introduced 2010, retired in 2011), Google Friend Connect (introduced 2008, retired in March 2012), and Orkut (introduced 2004, retired in September 2014{{cite web|url=http://en.blog.orkut.com/2014/06/tchau-orkut.html |title=Tchau Orkut |date=June 30, 2014 |website=Orkut Blog |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723220408/http://en.blog.orkut.com/2014/06/tchau-orkut.html |archive-date=July 23, 2014}}).

File:Google Plus icon (2011-2015).svg

File:Google Plus logo (2013-2015).svg

Google+ was introduced in June 2011. Features included the ability to post photos and status updates to the stream or interest-based communities, group different types of relationships (rather than simply "friends") into Circles, a multi-person instant messaging, text and video chat called Hangouts, events, location tagging, and the ability to edit and upload photos to private cloud-based albums.{{cite web |url=https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/introducing-google-project-real-life.html |title=Introducing the Google+ project: Real-life sharing, rethought for the web |date=June 28, 2011 |access-date=November 26, 2020 |last=Gundotra |first=Vic Gundotra }}{{cite web |url=https://mashable.com/2013/10/27/google-plus-beginners-guide/|title = The Beginner's Guide to Google+ |date=October 27, 2013 |access-date=26 November 2020 |publisher=Mashable |last=Lytle |first=Ryan}}

According to a 2016 book by a former Facebook employee, some leaders at Facebook saw Google's foray into social networking as a serious threat to the company. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg instituted a company-wide "lockdown", signaling that employees were supposed to dedicate time to bringing Facebook's features into line with Google+.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/06/how-mark-zuckerberg-led-facebooks-war-to-crush-google-plus |title=How Mark Zuckerberg Led Facebook's War to Crush Google Plus |date=June 3, 2016 |magazine=Vanity Fair |last1=Garcia Martinez |first1=Antonio |access-date=June 4, 2016}}

Assessments of Google+ growth varied widely, because Google first defined the service as a social network, then later as "a social layer across all of Google's services", allowing them to share a user's identity and interests.{{Cite news|url = https://www.huffpost.com/entry/vic-gundotra-google-plus_n_1336601|title = Vic Gundotra, Google's Social Chief, Explains What Google+ Is (But Not Why To Use It)|last = Bosker|first = Bianca|date = March 10, 2012|work = Huffington Post|access-date = 26 November 2020}} According to Ars Technica, Google+ signups were "often just an incidental byproduct of signing up for other Google services."{{cite web |url= https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/27439?hl=en | title= Google Accounts basics | publisher= Google Inc. | access-date= November 11, 2013 }}{{Cite news|url = https://uk.pcmag.com/web-sites/67090/will-the-real-google-engagement-figures-please-stand-up|title = Will The Real Google+ Engagement Figures Please Stand Up?|last = Murphy|first = David|date = January 21, 2012|work = PC Magazine|access-date = November 26, 2020}}

In 2011, Google+ had 10 million users two weeks after the launch.{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2011/07/14/technology/google_q2_earnings/index.htm |title=Google+ Grows to 10 Million Users |date=July 14, 2011 |access-date=July 15, 2011 |publisher=CNN}} In a month, it had 25 million.{{cite web |author=Wasserman, Todd |url=https://mashable.com/2011/08/02/google-plus-25-million-visitors/ |title=Google+ Hits 25 Million Visitors; Users Are Spending More Time There [STUDY] |publisher=Mashable |date=August 2, 2011 |access-date=August 29, 2011}} In October 2011, the service had 40 million users, according to Larry Page.{{cite web|url=https://plus.google.com/106189723444098348646/posts/EanXz8fLwDh|title=Here is my Google earnings remarks I just gave and the quote from our press…|last=Page|first=Larry|work=plus.google.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104020512/https://plus.google.com/106189723444098348646/posts/EanXz8fLwDh|archive-date=4 November 2011}} At the end of 2011, Google+ had 90 million users.{{cite web|url=http://investor.google.com/earnings/2011/Q4_google_earnings.html|title=Google Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2011 Results|work=google.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309222725/http://investor.google.com/earnings/2011/Q4_google_earnings.html|archive-date=March 9, 2012}} In October 2013, approximately 540 million monthly active users used the social layer by interacting with Google+'s enhanced properties, such as Gmail, the +1 button, and YouTube comments.{{cite web|url=https://marketingland.com/google-hits-300-million-active-monthly-in-stream-users-540-million-across-google-63354|title=Google+ Hits 300 Million Active Monthly "In-Stream" Users, 540 Million Across Google|publisher=MarketingLand|date=October 29, 2013|last=McGee|first=Matt|access-date=November 26, 2020}} Some 300 million monthly active users participated in the social network by interacting with the Google+ social-networking stream. According to ComScore, the biggest market was the United States followed by India.{{cite web |date=August 3, 2011 |title=Google+ Draws 25 Million Visitors in a Month, ComScore Says |url=http://www.ip6net.net/index.php/news |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915235617/http://www.ip6net.net/index.php/news |archive-date=September 15, 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://blog.google/products/hangouts/google-hangouts-and-photos-save-some/|title=Google+ Hangouts and Photos: save some time, share your story|date=October 29, 2013|publisher=Google Inc Official Blog|access-date=October 29, 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/10/29/google-plus/3296017/|title=Google's social network sees 58% jump in users|publisher=USAToday|date=October 29, 2013|last=Barr|first=Alistair|access-date=November 26, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://thenextweb.com/google/2013/10/29/two-years-later-google-growing-540m-active-users-worldwide-1-5b-photos-uploaded/|title=Two years later, Google+ is growing, with 540 m active users worldwide, 1.5b photos uploaded each week|publisher=The Next Web|date=October 29, 2013|last=Yeung|first=Ken|access-date=November 26, 2020}}

Google+'s user engagement was lower than that of its competitors; ComScore estimated that the average amount of time spent by users on the site during the month of January 2012 amounted to only 3.3{{spaces}}minutes, while on Facebook this metric was over 136 times greater, at 7.5{{spaces}}hours.{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/28/tech/social-media/google-plus-comscore/index.html |title=Google Plus Users Spent Just 3.3 Minutes There Last Month |date=February 28, 2012 |publisher=CNN |access-date=November 26, 2020 }}{{cite news |url=https://mashable.com/2012/06/27/google-plus-one-year-later |title=Google+: A Year of Missed Opportunities |last=Wasserman |first=Todd |date=June 27, 2012 |publisher=Mashable |access-date=November 26, 2020 }} In March 2013, average time spent on the site had increased but remained low, at about 7{{spaces}}minutes according to Nielsen (not including traffic from apps).{{cite news |url=https://mashable.com/2013/05/10/google-has-20-million-u-s-monthly-mobile-users-report-says/ |title=Report: Google+ Visitors Spent an Average of About 7 Minutes on the Site in March |last=Wasserman |first=Todd |date=May 10, 2013 |publisher=Mashable |access-date=November 26, 2020 }} In February 2014, The New York Times likened Google+ to a ghost town, citing Google's stated 540 million "monthly active users" and noting that almost half did not visit the site. The company replied that the significance of Google+ was less as a Facebook competitor than as a means of gathering and connecting user information from Google's various services.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/15/technology/the-plus-in-google-plus-its-mostly-for-google.html |title=The Plus in Google Plus? It's Mostly for Google |last=Miller |first=Claire Cain |date=February 14, 2014 |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 26, 2020}}

In April 2014, Vic Gundotra, the executive in charge of Google+, departed the company{{Cite news|url = https://www.vox.com/2014/4/24/11626004/exclusive-google-head-vic-gundotra-leaving-company|title = Google+ Head Vic Gundotra Leaving Company|last = Gannes|first = Liz|date = April 24, 2012|work = Vox|access-date = November 26, 2020}} with management responsibility going to David Besbris. By March 2015, Google executive Bradley Horowitz, who had co-founded Google+ with Gundotra, had replaced Besbris, becoming vice president of streams, photos, and sharing.{{Cite news|url = https://techcrunch.com/2015/03/01/bradley-horowitz-is-now-running-google/|title = Bradley Horowitz is Now Running Google+|last = Linden|first = Ingrid|date = March 1, 2015|work = TechCrunch}}

In an interview with Steven Levy published on May 28, 2015, Horowitz said that Google+ was about to undergo a "huge shift" that would better reflect how the service is actually used. By that time, two core Google+ functions, communications and photos, had become standalone services.{{Cite news|url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/miguelhelft/2015/02/26/exclusive-sundar-pichais-plan-to-keep-google-almighty/3/|title = Exclusive: Sundar Pichai's Plan To Keep Google Almighty|last=Helft|first=Miguel|date=February 26, 2015|work=Forbes|access-date=November 26, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/03/google-knew-dead-google-still-social-network/|title=Google+ as We Knew It Is Dead, But Google Is Still a Social Network|publisher=Wired.com|date=February 3, 2015|last=Pierce|first=David|access-date=November 26, 2020}}{{cite web|title = Bradley Horowitz Says That Google Photos is Gmail for Your Images. And That Google Plus Is Not Dead…|url = https://medium.com/backchannel/bradley-horowitz-says-that-google-photos-is-gmail-for-your-images-and-that-google-plus-is-not-dead-54be1d641526|website = Medium|access-date = May 30, 2015|date = May 28, 2015|last = Levy|first = Steven}} Google Photos, Google's photo and video library, was announced at the May 2015 Google I/O conference.{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/5/28/8678629/google-photos-app-announced |access-date=May 28, 2015 |title=Google announces unlimited picture and video storage with new Photos app |last1=Kastrenakes |first1=Jacob |date=May 28, 2015 |work=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529035317/http://www.theverge.com/2015/5/28/8678629/google-photos-app-announced |archive-date=May 29, 2015 |url-status=live }} Google Hangouts, Google's communications platform, was announced two years earlier, also at Google I/O. Google subsequently refocused Google+ on shared interests, removing features not supporting "an interest-based social experience". The company also eliminated the Google+ social layer; users no longer needed a Google+ profile to share content and communicate with contacts. The transition began with YouTube, where a Google+ profile was no longer required to create, upload, or comment on a channel, but a Google+ page was instead required. YouTube comments no longer appeared on Google+ or vice versa.{{cite web|url=http://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/everything-in-its-right-place.html|title=Everything in its right place|last=Horowitz|first=Bradley|date=July 27, 2015}}{{cite web|title = Keeping the conversation going|url = http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2015/07/youtube-comments.html|website = Official YouTube Blog|access-date = July 28, 2015}}{{Cite news|url = http://www.cnet.com/news/google-lifting-google-social-network-requirement-for-youtube-other-services/|title = Google+ to be subtracted from YouTube, other services|last = Nieva|first = Richard|date = July 27, 2015|work = CNET}}{{cite web|last=Roettgers|first=Janko|date=July 27, 2015|title=Google Separates YouTube from Google+, Refocuses Social Network|url=https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/google-separates-youtube-from-google-refocuses-social-network-1201549150/|access-date=July 28, 2015|website=Variety}}{{Excessive citations inline|date=November 2021}}

On November 18, 2015, Google+ underwent a redesign with the stated intent of making the site simpler and faster, making the new features of Communities and Collections more prominent, and removing features such as Hangouts integration, Events and Custom URLs, though Events and Custom URLs were eventually added back.{{cite web|title=Create & manage events – Computer – Google+ Help|url=https://support.google.com/plus/answer/2673334|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314014407/https://support.google.com/plus/answer/2673334|archive-date=14 March 2013|access-date=May 11, 2018|website=support.google.com}}{{cite web |url=https://support.google.com/plus/answer/2676340 |title=Get a custom URL for your Google+ profile – Google+ Help |website=support.google.com |access-date=May 11, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122052455/https://support.google.com/plus/answer/2676340 | archivedate=2018-11-22}}{{cite web |url=https://support.google.com/plus/answer/6320397|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928023234/https://support.google.com/plus/answer/6320397|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 28, 2016|title=What's changing with Google+ - Google+ Help|website=support.google.com|access-date=November 3, 2016}}

{{See also|2018 Google data breach}}

On October 8, 2018, Google announced it would be ending the consumer version of Google+ by the end of August 2019, later changing that date to April 2, 2019.{{cite web |url=https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9195133?hl |title=Shutting down Google+ for consumer (personal) accounts on April 2, 2019 |date=January 30, 2019 |website=Google+ Help |access-date=February 1, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/01/google-shuts-down-april-2-all-data-will-be-deleted/ |title=Google+ shuts down April 2, all data will be deleted |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=January 31, 2019 |website=Ars Technica |access-date=January 31, 2019}} The company cited low user engagement and difficulties in "creating and maintaining a successful Google+ that meets consumers' expectations", noting that 90% of user sessions on the service lasted less than five seconds. It also acknowledged a design flaw in an API that could expose private user data. Google said it found no evidence that "any developer was aware of this bug, or abusing the API" or that "any Profile data was misused."{{cite web|url=https://www.blog.google/technology/safety-security/project-strobe/ |title=Project Strobe: Protecting your data, improving our third-party APIs, and sunsetting consumer Google+ |last=Smith |first=Ben |date=October 8, 2018 |access-date=October 8, 2018}}

According to The Wall Street Journal, the data exposure was discovered in the spring of 2018, and was not reported by the company because of fears of increased regulatory scrutiny. The newspaper said that "the move effectively puts the final nail in the coffin of a product that was launched in 2011 to challenge Facebook, and is widely seen as one of Google's biggest failures."{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-exposed-user-data-feared-repercussions-of-disclosing-to-public-1539017194?mod=e2tw|title=Google Exposed User Data, Feared Repercussions of Disclosing to Public|last1=MacMillan|first1=Douglas|last2=McMillan|first2=Robert|date=Oct 8, 2018|work=The Wall Street Journal|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660|url-access=subscription|access-date=October 8, 2018}}

On December 10, 2018, Google reported that a subsequent Google+ API update exposed customer data for six days before being discovered, again saying there was no evidence of any breach. The bug allowed outside developers access to personal information of users. Over 52.5 million users were affected.{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2018/12/11/google-plus-leak-social-network-shut-down-sooner-after-security-bug/2274296002/ |title=Google to shut down Google+ early due to bug that leaked data of 52.5 million users |website=USA Today |access-date=December 12, 2018}} The company moved the service's shutdown date to April 2019, and said it would "sunset all Google+ APIs in the next 90 days."{{cite web |url=https://www.blog.google/technology/safety-security/expediting-changes-google-plus/ |title=Expediting changes to Google+ |last=Thacker |first=David |date=December 10, 2018 |website=Google: The Keyword (company blog) |access-date=December 11, 2018}}

On its business-oriented G Suite, Google replaced Google+ with a similar product called Google Currents, which facilitates internal communications.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/10/18305023/google-currents-replaces-plus-g-suite-new-app|title=Google's new Currents app is its enterprise replacement for Google+|last=Welch|first=Chris|date=April 10, 2019|website=The Verge|access-date=June 20, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://gsuiteupdates.googleblog.com/2019/04/currents-for-gsuite.html |title=Introducing Currents, the newest G Suite app |date=April 10, 2019 |website=G Suite Updates Blog |access-date=June 20, 2019}} A few months after the Google+ closure, in July 2019, the company soft launched an experimental social networking platform called Shoelace, oriented toward organizing local activities and events.{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/12/20691430/shoelace-google-area-120-event-organizing-new-york-beta |title=Google takes another run at social networking with Shoelace |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=July 12, 2019 |website=The Verge |access-date=July 31, 2019}} However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Shoelace shut down on May 12, 2020.{{cite web |title=Google shuts down event organizing experiment as local meetups disappear |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/29/21240978/google-area-120-shoelace-shut-down-date-event-organizing-app |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=2020-04-29 |website=The Verge |access-date=2020-05-14}} On June 5, 2020, Google announced that Currents would replace Google+ for all G Suite customers on July 6, 2020.{{cite web |date=2020-06-05 |title=Google+ is dead, long live Currents (for G Suite users) |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/06/05/google-plus-dead-long-live-currents-g-suite/ |access-date=2020-06-06 |website=Android Police}} On February 10, 2022, Google announced that it would be planning to "wind down" Currents and transition its users to Google Chat in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Mitchell |date=2022-02-10 |title=Google will shut down Currents, the work-focused Google Plus replacement |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/10/22928042/google-plus-replacement-wind-down-currents-spaces |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=The Verge |language=en}}

Google+'s user base was roughly 60% male and 25% female in November 2013, and 15% "other" or unknown.{{cite web|title=Circle Count Google+ Gender Stats|url=http://www.circlecount.com/statistic/gender/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002082336/http://www.circlecount.com/statistic/gender/|archive-date=2 October 2011|access-date=November 11, 2013}} Early adopters of Google+ in mid-2011 were mostly male (71.24%), and the dominant age bracket (35%) was between 25 and 34.{{cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Jon |url=http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/who_uses_google_plus_male_geeks_from_the_us_infogr.php |title=Who Used Google Plus First? Male Geeks from the US [Infographic] |publisher=ReadWriteWeb (blog) |date=August 1, 2011 |access-date=August 29, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924030519/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/who_uses_google_plus_male_geeks_from_the_us_infogr.php |archive-date=September 24, 2011}} An August 2011 survey estimated that 13% of U.S. adults had joined Google+.{{cite news|date=August 5, 2011|title=Google+ May Pass Twitter Among U.S. Adults Online|publisher=Bloomberg|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-05/google-may-pass-twitter-with-one-fifth-of-u-s-adults-online.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927014512/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-05/google-may-pass-twitter-with-one-fifth-of-u-s-adults-online.html|archive-date=September 27, 2011}}

A Google+ user profile was a publicly visible account of a user that was attached to many Google properties. It included basic social networking services like a profile photo, an about section, a cover photo, previous work and school history, interests, places lived and an area to post status updates.{{cite web|date=June 4, 2012|title=13 Creative Google+ Cover Photo Hacks|url=http://mashable.com/2012/04/11/google-plus-cover-photo-hacks/|website=Mashable}} It also included several identity service sections, such as a contributor and other profiles area that allowed users to link their "properties across the web". These sections were optionally linked to other social media accounts one had, any blogs one owns or have written or sites one is a contributor to. This area was used for Google Authorship.{{cite web|last=DeJarnette|first=Rick|date=June 4, 2012|title=The Definitive Guide To Google Authorship Markup|url=http://searchengineland.com/the-definitive-guide-to-google-authorship-markup-123218|website=searchengineland}}{{cite news|title=The One Reason Every Blogger Should Use Google+|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevecooper/2013/08/31/the-one-reason-every-blogger-should-use-google/|date=October 8, 2013 | work=Forbes|first=Steve|last=Cooper}} Customized or Vanity URLs were made available to the public starting on October 29, 2013, to any account that was 30+ days old and had a profile photo and at least 10 followers.{{cite web|date=October 29, 2013|title=Google+ starts offering custom URLs to accounts that are 30+ days old, have 10+ followers and a profile photo|url=https://thenextweb.com/google/2013/10/29/google-starts-offering-custom-urls-accounts-30-days-old-10-followers-profile-photo/|website=thenextweb}} Google removed author photos from search results in June 2014,{{cite web|date=June 26, 2014|title=Google Announces the End of Author Photos in Search: What You Should Know|url=http://moz.com/blog/bye-bye-author-pics|website=MOZ}} and in August 2014 Google stopped showing authorship in search results, both photo and author name.{{cite web|date=August 29, 2014|title=Google will not show authorship in search results|url=https://plus.google.com/+JohnMueller/posts/HZf3KDP1Dm8|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217073012/https://plus.google.com/+JohnMueller/posts/HZf3KDP1Dm8|archive-date=17 February 2019}}{{cite web|date=August 29, 2014|title=End of Google Authorship from Search Results|url=https://www.neotericuk.co.uk/blog/google-authorship/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150501093834/https://www.neotericuk.co.uk/blog/google-authorship/|archive-date=May 1, 2015|website=neotericuk}}

Circles was a core feature of the Google+ Social Platform. It enabled users to organize people into groups or lists for sharing across various Google products and services. Organization of circles was done through a drag-and-drop interface{{Cite web |archive-date=2013-05-26 |title=About circles - Google+ Help |url=https://support.google.com/plus/answer/1047805?hl=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526094252/https://support.google.com/plus/answer/1047805?hl=en |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Google Support |url-status=dead}} until a site redesign in 2015 reduced it to a simple checkbox interface.{{cite web |url=https://support.google.com/plus/answer/6320407 |title=Use circles on Google+ - Computer – Google+ Help |website=Google Support |access-date=May 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018155131/https://support.google.com/plus/answer/6320407?hl=en&visit_id=0-636439386885816934-234971608&rd=1 |archive-date=2017-10-18 |url-status=dead }} Once a circle was created, a Google+ user could share specific private content to only that circle. For example, work-themed content could be shared with only colleagues, and one's friends and family could see more personal content and photos. The option to share Public or with Everyone was always available.

Starting in November 2011, Google+ profiles were used as the background account for many Google services including YouTube, Gmail, Google Maps, Android, Google Play, Google Music, Google Voice, Google Wallet, Google Local and more.[https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2012/01/google-doubles-plus-membership-with-brute-force-signup-process.ars Google doubles Plus membership with brute-force signup process], Ars Technica, January 22, 2012 As of January 10, Google Search was customized with a feature called Search Plus Your World, which inserted content shared on Google+ profiles and brand pages under Web Search results, if one was logged into one's Google+ account while using it.{{cite web |url=http://googleblog.blogspot.ca/2012/01/search-plus-your-world.html |title=Search, plus Your World |date=January 10, 2012 |publisher=Google Official Blog |access-date=November 11, 2013}} The feature, which was opt-in, was received with controversy over the emphasis of Google+ profiles over other social networking services. The feature built upon the earlier "Social Search" feature which indexes content shared or published by authors; "Social Search", however, relied partly upon returns from non-Google services, such as Twitter and Flickr. As of July 2011, tweets were no longer shown due to the expiration of Google's contract with Twitter.{{cite web |url=http://searchengineland.com/as-deal-with-twitter-expires-google-realtime-search-goes-offline-84175 |title=As Deal With Twitter Expires, Google Realtime Search Goes Offline |date=July 4, 2011 |publisher=Google Official Blog |access-date=November 11, 2013}}

The public setting allowed users to disclose certain information to the circles of their choice. Users could also see their profile visitors.{{cite web |url=http://mashable.com/2011/07/16/google-plus-guide/#9n6gcuQkoqqb |title=Google+: The Complete Guide |date=July 16, 2011 |publisher=Mashable}}

Google+ featured a "+1 button" which allowed people to recommend sites and posts, similar in use to Facebook's Like button.{{cite web|title=Google +1 Button|url=https://www.google.com/+1/button/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110331103458/https://www.google.com/+1/button/|archive-date=31 March 2011|access-date=July 21, 2011}} Similar to "like", "+1" was also called "plus one", and posts (on Google+) and pages (across the internet) could be "+1'd" or "plusoned".

Google+ Pages was released on November 7, 2011 to all users, allowing businesses to connect with fans.{{cite web |last=Gundotra |first=Vic |url=http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/google-pages-connect-with-all-things.html |title=Official Google Blog: Google+ Pages: connect with all the things you care about |publisher=Googleblog.blogspot.com |date=November 7, 2011 |access-date=January 23, 2012}}{{cite web|author=Khan, Azam|date=November 7, 2011|title=Google Launches Business Pages|url=http://socialtimes.com/google-launches-business-pages_b83409|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109154031/http://socialtimes.com/google-launches-business-pages_b83409|archive-date=9 November 2011|work=socialtimes.com}}{{cite web |url=http://blogominded.com/2011/11/google-plus-pages-all-you-need-to-do-to-make-your-blog-famous-on-this-new-social-network/ |title=Google+ Pages: All you need to do to make your blog famous on this new Social Network |publisher=Blogominded |access-date=December 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531073519/http://blogominded.com/2011/11/google-plus-pages-all-you-need-to-do-to-make-your-blog-famous-on-this-new-social-network/ |archive-date=May 31, 2012 |url-status=dead}}

Google+ Badges was quietly introduced to select enterprises beginning on November 9, 2011, and officially released to the public on November 16.{{cite web |url=http://googleplusplatform.blogspot.com/2011/11/google-badges-drive-engagement-with.html |title=Google+ badges: Drive Engagement with Your Users on Google+, Right from Your Own Website |author=Todd Volkert |publisher=Google+ Platform Blog |date=November 9, 2011}} Badges were sidebar widgets which embed "Add to Circles" buttons and drop-down lists into off-site websites and blogs, similar to Facebook's Like Box widgets. This was officially treated by Google as a replacement for the older Google Friend Connect and its widgets, and GFC was announced by Senior Vice President of Operations Urs Hölzle on November 23, 2011, as scheduled to be retired by March 12, 2012, on all non-Blogger sites in favor of Google+ Page Badges.{{cite web |url=http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/more-spring-cleaning-out-of-season.html |title=More spring cleaning out of season |author=Urs Hölzle |date=November 22, 2011}}

Google+ Views was introduced on April 1, 2014. It featured a "view counter", which is displayed on every user's profile page. The view counter showed the number of times the user's content had been seen by others, including photos, posts, and profile page.{{cite web|author=Cynthia boris|date=April 2, 2014|title=Google Plus adds view counter to profile pages|url=http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2014/04/google-plus-adds-view-counter-to-profile-pages-whats-your-number.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140403114123/http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2014/04/google-plus-adds-view-counter-to-profile-pages-whats-your-number.html|archive-date=April 3, 2014|publisher=marketingpilgrim}} This feature was later removed in favor of an insights feature.{{cite news |url=https://9to5google.com/2017/01/24/google-new-insights-feature/ |title=Google+ adds new Insights feature for quickly tracking overall reach & influence on the platform |date=January 25, 2017 |work=9to5Google |access-date=May 11, 2018}}

Google+ Communities was released on December 6, 2012. This allowed users to create ongoing conversations about particular topics.{{cite web|title=Google announces new Google+ Communities as social network tops 500 million users|url=https://news.yahoo.com/google-announces-google-communities-social-network-tops-500-225125124.html|access-date=December 8, 2012|website=Yahoo News|date=December 6, 2012 }}

Events allowed users to invite other people to share photos and media in real time. This was removed from Google+ as part of the November 2015 redesign, but later added back in a different location. Events were later included on the user's profile.

The Discover page showed trending posts and articles on Google+ and around the web.{{Cite news|url=https://www.androidheadlines.com/2017/08/google-rolls-discover-tool-highlight-trending-posts.html|title=Google+ Rolls Out Discover Tool To Highlight Trending Posts {{!}} Androidheadlines.com|date=August 17, 2017|work=AndroidHeadlines.com {{!}}|access-date=May 11, 2018|language=en-US}}

On June 11, 2014, Google combined Google Places and Google+ Local Business Pages with the Google My Business product. The product used the interface of Google+ but had many more features, including insights and analytics.{{cite web|title=Help your business shine with Google My Business|url=http://googleandyourbusiness.blogspot.com/2014/06/help-your-business-shine-with-google-my.html|access-date=June 11, 2014}} On May 30, 2012, Google Places was replaced by Google+ Local, which integrated directly with the Google+ service to allow users to post photos and reviews of locations directly to its page on the service. Additionally, Google+ Local and Maps featured detailed reviews and ratings from Zagat, which was acquired by Google in September 2011.{{cite web|title=Zagat goes free with launch of Google+ Local |url=http://paidcontent.org/2012/05/30/zagat-free-google-plus-local/ |publisher=paidContent |access-date=May 30, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530175246/http://paidcontent.org/2012/05/30/zagat-free-google-plus-local/ |archive-date=May 30, 2012}}

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• Google+ Creative Kit was an online photo editor integrated to Google+ on October 27, 2011,{{cite web|url=http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/google-popular-posts-eye-catching.html|title=Official Google Blog: Google+: Popular posts, eye-catching analytics, photo fun and...|work=Official Google Blog|access-date=October 4, 2014}} similar to Picnik, integrated earlier to Picasa Web Albums. This feature was removed from Google+ in 2015.{{Cite news|url=https://thenextweb.com/google/2015/05/29/heres-why-google-and-google-photos-are-now-separate-services/|title=Here's why Google+ and Google Photos are now separate services|last=Swanner|first=Nate|date=May 29, 2015|work=The Next Web|access-date=May 11, 2018|language=en-US}}
• Auto Awesome: Released at Google I/O in 2013, the feature applied special effects, manually (with Android) or automatically, often using multiple sequential shots. Effects included composite motion in a single image, short animation, photo booth style, and high-dynamic range rendering (HDR).[https://archive.today/20130830225402/https://support.google.com/plus/answer/3113884?hl=en Auto Awesome photos & movies – Google+ Help]. Support.google.com. Retrieved on November 29, 2013. This feature was moved to Google Photos in 2015.
• Auto Enhance: With Auto Enhance, Google+ made subtle adjustments to hypothetically improve photos.{{cite web|title=Auto Enhance|url=https://support.google.com/plus/answer/3338435?hl=en&ref_topic=3052527|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140218231658/https://support.google.com/plus/answer/3338435?hl=en&ref_topic=3052527|archive-date=February 18, 2014|access-date=October 4, 2014}} This feature was moved to Google Photos in 2015.
• Google+ Auto-Backup: A desktop utility that imported a large collection of photos and videos.{{cite web|title=Google updates Picasa, adds Google+ Auto Backup standalone Mac tool|url=http://www.idownloadblog.com/2013/12/30/googl-picasa-auto-backup-mac-app/|access-date=October 4, 2014|website=idownloadblog|date=December 30, 2013}} This feature was moved to Google Photos in 2015.

• Google Takeout provided the ability to download one's content from Google+.[http://dataliberation.blogspot.com/2011/06/data-liberation-front-delivers-google.html "The Data Liberation Front Delivers Google Takeout"], Google Data Liberation Front, June 28, 2011
• Hashtags, where "#" is written before a word or CamelCase, were hyperlinked to the most recent or highest-trending search results within Google+ containing the term. This, a feature which gained notoriety as a microblogging practice on Twitter, was implemented as a Google+ feature on October 12, 2011. Autocompletion came on January 17, 2012.{{cite web|title=Introducing Hashtag Auto-complete|url=https://plus.google.com/u/0/102034052532213921839/posts/TA9BuiyPago|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009084747/https://plus.google.com/u/0/102034052532213921839/posts/TA9BuiyPago|archive-date=9 October 2012|access-date=October 4, 2014}}
• Over the lifetime of Google+, Google added and made changes to many features. On September 30, 2011, the company released a list of changes and additions to Google+ mobile which include:{{cite web|url=http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2011/09/google-101-102-103-104-105-106-107.html|title=Google+: 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107... - Official Google Mobile Blog|work=googlemobile.blogspot.com}}
• Selected public figures had verified names. Google determined whether a particular profile warranted verification. The purpose was to indicate to site visitors whether a particular profile belonged to who one would generally expect the name to be, and not someone who coincidentally had the same name as a public figure. Verified identity profiles had a checkmark logo after their name. Examples of profiles that bore the verified name badge include Linus Torvalds, William Shatner, Leo Laporte, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, and Sergey Brin.{{cite web|title=Google+ announcement by Wen-Ai Yu describing the verified name program|url=https://plus.google.com/103618543375127073102/posts/ZiXUSJQ3fGA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528065942/https://plus.google.com/103618543375127073102/posts/ZiXUSJQ3fGA|archive-date=28 May 2018|access-date=October 4, 2014}}

In May 2015, Google+ launched the "Collections" feature which was inspired by Pinterest. It allowed users to "build content collections based on topics and interests".{{Cite news|url = https://techcrunch.com/2015/05/04/google-turns-users-into-content-curators-with-new-collections-feature/|title = Google+ Turns Users Into Content Curators With New "Collections" Feature|last = Perez|first = Sarah |date = May 5, 2015|work = TechCrunch|access-date =May 5, 2015}}

• Search in Google+ allowed users to search for content within Google+ and around the web. Users typed what they were looking for into the Google+ search box, and Google returned relevant people and posts, as well as popular content from around the web.{{cite web|url=http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/google-92-93-94-95-96-97-98-99-100.html |title=Search in Google+ |date= September 20, 2011 |access-date= October 3, 2011}}
• Messenger, also called Huddle, was a feature available to Android, iPhone, and SMS devices for communicating through instant messaging within Circles. Additionally, users could share photos in Messenger between their Circles.{{cite news| url= https://techcrunch.com/2011/06/28/google-plus/ | title= Google+ Project: It's Social, It's Bold, It's Fun, And It Looks Good — Now for the Hard Part | author= Siegler, M.G. | work= TechCrunch |date= June 28, 2011 | access-date= June 30, 2011}} This feature was removed in August 2013 as it was superseded by Hangouts.{{cite web|author=Jerry Hildenbrand|url=http://www.androidcentral.com/goodbye-google-messenger-hello-g-photos |title=Goodbye Google+ Messenger, hello G+ Photos |date=August 16, 2013 |publisher=Android Central |access-date=November 29, 2013}}
• Sparks was a front-end to Google Search, enabling users to identify topics they might be interested in sharing with others. "Featured interests" sparks were also available, based on topics others globally were finding interesting. Sparks was accessed as a pull-down from search results and helped to keep users informed of the latest updates on the topics of their interest. Sparks was removed sometime in November 2012.{{cite web|url=http://techwhack.co/google-completely-rid-sparks-feature-5580/ |title=Sparks removed in G+ |access-date=April 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603032342/http://techwhack.co/google-completely-rid-sparks-feature-5580/ |archive-date=June 3, 2013 }}
• Games had 16 games when Google+ launched on August 11, 2011,{{cite web|url=http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/games-in-google-fun-that-fits-your.html |title=Games in Google+: Fun That Fits Your Schedule |publisher=Official Google Blog |access-date= August 11, 2011}} which expanded to 44 a few months later, but by April 2013 there were 38 since some games were removed by the owner.{{cite web |url=https://www.googleplusdaily.com/2013/01/the-future-of-google-games.html#.UWbTSKLqkpk |title=The Future of Google+ Games |publisher=Google Plus Daily |date=January 31, 2013 |access-date=June 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602092739/http://www.googleplusdaily.com/2013/01/the-future-of-google-games.html#.UWbTSKLqkpk |archive-date=June 2, 2013 |url-status=dead }} Unlike Facebook games, Google+ games were located under a games tab, which gave games less visibility,{{cite web|title=Google Plus: Google plus social games is awesome, done the right way!|url=http://google-plus.com/801/google-plus-social-games-is-awesome-done-the-right-way/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130110225552/http://google-plus.com/801/google-plus-social-games-is-awesome-done-the-right-way/|archive-date=January 10, 2013|access-date=October 4, 2014|work=Google Plus News}} and had separate notifications from the rest of a user's notifications. All games were removed from Google+ in June 2013.{{cite web|title=What's happening to Google+ Games?|url=https://support.google.com/plus/answer/3123176?p=plus_games&rd=1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823055931/https://support.google.com/plus/answer/3123176?p=plus_games&rd=1|archive-date=August 23, 2013|access-date=May 15, 2013|publisher=Google Inc.}} The concept was later recycled as YouTube Playables, a similar webgame platform.
• Ripples, introduced on October 27, 2011, was a visualization tool, showing how re-sharing activity happened regarding a public post. One could replay the public share's activity, zoom in on certain events, identify top contributors, view statistics about average chain length, the most influential people in the chain, the language of the sharers, etc. The feature was removed in May 2015.[https://web.archive.org/web/20170312042631/https://plus.google.com/+googleplus/posts/dbVpERPaqYA Starting today, the Ripples feature in Google+ is no longer available]. Retrieved May 20, 2015
• Hangouts, the feature that enabled users to chat, voice, and video conference between users, was removed from Google+ as part of the November 2015 redesign and made accessible through its own Hangouts homepage and mobile applications.
• Hangouts on Air, introduced in September 2011, the live streaming service was moved to YouTube Live starting September 12, 2016.[https://web.archive.org/web/20161027061254/https://support.google.com/plus/answer/7126353?hl=en Hangouts On Air moved to YouTube Live]. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
• What's Hot, introduced on October 27, 2011, was a stream showing what Google+ users had commented, shared and interacted with the most. It was similar to "Trending Topics" On Twitter. The page was removed in late 2015, but a new "discover" stream introduced in 2017 provided similar functionality.
• Photos was a suite of features which provided photo backup and editing, removed in 2015 and replaced with a separate product called Google Photos.
• Mentions was a separate stream that showed posts and images the user was +mentioned in. This page was removed in the November 2015 redesign.

According to Joseph Smarr, one of the Google+ team's technical leads, Google+ was a typical Google web application: it used Java servlets for the server code and JavaScript for the browser-side of the UI, largely built with Google's Closure framework, including the JavaScript compiler and the template system. They used the HTML5 History API to maintain good-looking URLs in modern browsers despite the AJAX app. To achieve fast response times Google often rendered the Closure templates on the server side before any JavaScript was loaded; then the JavaScript found the right DOM nodes, hooked up event handlers, etc. The back ends were built mostly on top of Bigtable and Colossus/GFS, and other common Google technologies such as MapReduce.{{cite web|author=Joseph Smarr|year=2011|title=I'm a technical lead on the Google+ team. Ask me anything.|url=http://anyasq.com/79-im-a-technical-lead-on-the-google+-team|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120702020635/http://anyasq.com/79-im-a-technical-lead-on-the-google+-team|archive-date=July 2, 2012|access-date=August 17, 2011}}

Within a day of the website's launch, various news agencies reported that Google+ was restricted by the People's Republic of China.{{Cite news |first= Charles |last= Arthur |work= The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/jun/30/google-plus-blocked-china |title=Google+ 'Blocked in China'|date= June 30, 2011 |access-date=July 1, 2011 |location=London}} This was part of a wider policy of censorship in mainland China.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/jun/30/google-plus-blocked-china|title=Google+ 'Blocked in China'|work = The Guardian |access-date= July 20, 2011 |first=Charles|last=Arthur|date=June 30, 2011|location=London}} While it was not technically "blocked", it was made impossible to use by slowing it down to a crawl.{{cite news|last=Wauters |first=Robin |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/06/29/google-plus-china-blocked/|title=China Is Already Blocking Google+|work= TechCrunch |date= June 29, 2011}} The Iranian government had also blocked access to Google+ from July 11, 2011,{{cite web|url=http://aftabnews.ir/vdcgqz9q7ak9w34.rpra.html|title="گوگل پلاس" در ایران فیلتر شد (persian)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713215604/http://aftabnews.ir/vdcgqz9q7ak9w34.rpra.html|archive-date=13 July 2011|access-date=July 12, 2011}} as part of Internet censorship in Iran.{{cite news |url=http://www.iranian.com/main/news/2011/07/14/iran-tightens-online-censorship-counter-us-shadow-internet|title=Iran Tightens Online Censorship To Counter US 'Shadow Internet'|publisher =iranian.com |access-date=July 29, 2011}}

On February 20, 2012, Internet users from China realized that state restrictions on Google+ had been relaxed for unknown reasons, allowing them to post on Google+ pages.{{cite web|author=Joel Herrick|date=February 25, 2012|title=Chinese Netizens Occupy Obama's Google+, Americans Annoyed|url=http://www.chinasmack.com/2012/stories/chinese-netizens-occupy-obamas-google-americans-annoyed.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119041242/http://www.chinasmack.com/2012/stories/chinese-netizens-occupy-obamas-google-americans-annoyed.html|archive-date=January 19, 2013|publisher=chinaSMACK}} In particular, Chinese users began to inundate the official election campaign pages of U.S. president Barack Obama on Google+ with often off-topic comments.{{cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-17167770|title = Chinese 'netizens' inundate Obama's Google+ page|date = February 25, 2012|work = BBC News}}

{{Main|Nymwars}}

In July 2011, Google+ required users to identify themselves using their real names, and some accounts were suspended when this requirement was not met.{{cite web|title=Google Carries Out Account Cull on Google+|url=http://www.thinq.co.uk/2011/7/8/google-starts-account-cull-google/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120525161358/http://www.itproportal.com/2011/07/08/google-starts-account-cull-google/|archive-date=May 25, 2012|access-date=July 21, 2011|publisher=Thinq.co.uk}}{{cite web |author=Blue, Violet |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-plus-deleting-accounts-en-masse-no-clear-answers/ |title=Google Plus Deleting Accounts En Masse: No Clear Answers |publisher=Pulp Tech (blog of ZDNet) |date=July 23, 2011 |access-date=October 12, 2011}} Google VP Bradley Horowitz stated that a violation of the terms of service would only affect offenders' access to Google+ and not any of the other services that Google provided.{{cite web |author=Hardawar, Devindra |url=https://venturebeat.com/2011/07/25/google-plus-name-policy-fix |title=Google VP Offers Up Fixes to Google+ Name Policy, Debunks Myths |publisher=VentureBeat (blog) |date=July 25, 2011 |access-date=August 23, 2011}} However, there were early reports of account holders being temporarily locked out of all of Google services.{{cite news |author=GrrlScientist |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/punctuated-equilibrium/2011/jul/25/1 |title=Google's Gormless 'No Pseudonym' Policy |work=The Guardian |date=July 25, 2011 |access-date=August 23, 2011 |location=London}}

On October 19, 2011, at the Web 2.0 Summit, Google executive Vic Gundotra revealed that Google+ would begin supporting pseudonyms and other types of identity "within a few months".[https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/10/victory-google-surrenders-nymwars "Victory! Google Surrenders in the Nymwars"], Eva Galperin and Jillian C. York, Electronic Frontier Foundation, October 19, 2011 Starting on January 23, 2012, Google+ began allowing the use of established pseudonyms.{{cite news|date=January 23, 2012|title=In a Switch, Google Plus Now Allows Pseudonyms|newspaper=The New York Times|url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/23/in-a-switch-google-plus-now-allows-pseudonyms/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120124200028/http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/23/in-a-switch-google-plus-now-allows-pseudonyms/|archive-date=January 24, 2012}} In July 2014, Google+'s policy was changed to allow any name to be used.[https://gizmodo.com/google-no-longer-require-you-use-your-real-name-1605788508 Google+ No Longer Requires You Use Your Real Name].

File:Bob-google-plus-ascii-art-protest-comment.png

On November 6, 2013, YouTube, Google's popular video-hosting site, began requiring that commenting on its videos be done via a Google+ account, making it impossible to reply to pre-Google+ integrated comments. YouTube said that its new commenting system featured improved tools for moderation, and comments would no longer be shown chronologically with two top comments at the top when applicable, but would be featured according to "relevance" and popularity, determined by the commenters' community engagement, reputation, and up-votes for a particular comment.{{cite web | last = Wynick | first = Alex | title = YouTube Switches to Google+ to Clean Up Comments Section – But Not All Users Are Happy | work = The Daily Mirror |location=London | date = November 7, 2013 | url = https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/youtube-switches-google-clean-up-2686400}}

The decision led hundreds of thousands of users to criticize the change.{{cite news|url = http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/210941-google-kills-mandatory-google-plus-identity-policy-rolls-back-youtube-changes

|title = Google kills mandatory Google Plus identity policy, rolls back YouTube changes|date = July 27, 2015|access-date = July 30, 2015|website = ExtremeTech|publisher = ExtremeTech|last = Hruska|first = Joel|quote = The idea that the company just 'learned' that it was a bad idea to enforce such restrictions is false, since after Google announced the policy, hundreds of thousands of people signed petitions to reverse the move.}} Some YouTube commenters and content creators complained that the Google+ requirement that users use their real name created online privacy and security concerns.{{cite news |last=Chase |first=Melvin |title=YouTube comments require Google+ account, Google faces uproar |newspaper=Newsday |date=November 20, 2013 |url=http://www.newsday.com/business/technology/silicon-island-1.1521604/youtube-comments-require-google-account-google-faces-uproar-1.6429420 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123061437/http://www.newsday.com/business/technology/silicon-island-1.1521604/youtube-comments-require-google-account-google-faces-uproar-1.6429420 |archive-date=November 23, 2013}} YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim voiced his disapproval in one of a few comments subsequent to the change{{cite news |first=Alex |last=Hern |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/08/youtube-cofounder-why-the-fuck-do-i-need-a-google-account-to-comment |title=YouTube co-founder hurls abuse at Google over new YouTube comments |newspaper=The Guardian |date=November 8, 2013 |access-date=November 11, 2013}}{{cite web |author=Alexis Kleinman |date=November 8, 2013 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/08/youtube-founder-google_n_4241492.html?ref=topbar |title=YouTube Founder Says What We're All Thinking About Google+ |work=The Huffington Post}} including the temporary addition of the following comments, "Why the f**k do I need a Google+ account to comment on a video?" and "I can't comment here anymore, since I don't want a google+ account" to the description of the first ever public video on the site.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNQXAC9IVRw | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/jNQXAC9IVRw| archive-date=2021-10-30|title=Me at the zoo |work=YouTube | date=April 23, 2005|access-date=October 4, 2014}}{{cbignore}} Thousands of commenters on YouTube pasted text art tanks and stick figures called "Bob" to protest the new commenting system and Google+.{{cite web |url=http://www.dailydot.com/lifestyle/bob-army-tank-ascii-art-youtube-google/ |title='Bob' and his tank become the mascots of the anti-Google+ movement |work=The Daily Dot |date=November 15, 2013 |access-date=October 4, 2014}} Supporters of the changes said it was a positive step at cleaning up the "virtual cesspool" of homophobic, racist, sexist and offensive comments found on YouTube.{{cite news|date=November 14, 2013|title=What's the Fuss about YouTube Comments Linking to Google Plus?|work=Firstpost|url=http://www.firstpost.com/tech/whats-the-fuss-about-youtube-comments-linking-to-google-plus-1228875.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131121211740/http://www.firstpost.com/tech/whats-the-fuss-about-youtube-comments-linking-to-google-plus-1228875.html|archive-date=November 21, 2013}} However, this actually increased the spam, and in fixing the issue, Google took the opportunity to strike back against those posting "Bob" ASCII art in protest at the company's actions.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2427715,00.asp |title=YouTube Admits Google+ Comment Integration Boosted Spam |last1=Mlot |first1=Stephanie |date=November 27, 2013 |website=pcmag.com |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=July 20, 2015 }}

On July 27, 2015, it was announced that the integration with Google+ would be discontinued and that YouTube would require only a Google+ page to use all the features, such as uploading videos and posting comments. YouTube had these changes rolled out over the course of several months, with the comments feature already having an update directly after the announcement: comments only appeared on YouTube and were no longer shared to the social network platform.{{cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/7/27/9047785/youtube-ditching-google-plus-requirement |title=Google+ and YouTube are finally splitting up |last=Welch |first=Chris |date=July 27, 2015 |work=The Verge |access-date=December 21, 2017}}

In October 2018, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Google, Inc. and Alphabet, Inc. due to "non-public" Google+ account data being exposed as a result of a privacy bug that allowed app developers to gain access to private information of users. The litigation was settled in July 2020 for $7.5 million and 1,720,029 claimants received $2.15 each.{{Cite web|last=Amadeo|first=Ron|date=2021-08-04|title=Google+ class action starts paying out $2.15 for G+ privacy violations|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/08/google-class-action-starts-paying-out-2-15-for-g-privacy-violations/|access-date=2021-08-06|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us}}{{cite news |last=Graham |first=Jefferson |date=August 4, 2020 |title=Did you use Google+? You may be owed some money from class-action privacy settlement |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/08/04/google-privacy-settlement-how-much-money-how-to-get/3290508001/ |access-date=2020-08-05 |newspaper=USA Today}}{{cite web |title=In re Google Plus Profile Litigation District Court N.D. California |date=2020-07-22 |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7999009/in-re-google-plus-profile-litigation/ |website=courtlistener.com |publisher=Free Law Project |access-date=2020-08-05 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200806003928/https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7999009/in-re-google-plus-profile-litigation/ |archive-date=2020-08-06}}

• The 2013 film The Internship makes many references to Google+. Set at Google, the comedy was directed by Shawn Levy and stars Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn.{{cite news |url=http://marketingland.com/the-internship-movie-builds-buzz-trailer-premieres-during-google-hangout-33428 |title=How Much Buzz Did 'The Internship" Movie Trailer Get During Google+ Hangout? |last=Osmeloski |first=Elisabeth |date=February 13, 2013 |newspaper=Marketing Land |access-date=December 14, 2016 }}
• Musician Emma Blackery made a November 2013 song criticizing the platform's integration with YouTube.{{YouTube|id=LTq8TrA3hb4|title=My Thoughts on Google+}} In November 2018, following the announcement of the service's imminent shutdown for consumers, an updated version was released.{{YouTube|id=Li7RvLKoVlQ|title=My Thoughts on Google+ [2018 EDITION]}}

==See also==

{{portal|Internet}}

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• {{annotated link|The Apache Software Foundation}}
• {{annotated link|Google App Engine}}
• {{annotated link|Google Buzz}}
• {{annotated link|Google Sites}}
• {{annotated link|Google Wave}}
• List of social networking services
• {{annotated link|Orkut}}

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{{reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}
• [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2013/jun/04/google-plus-the-matrix Google+ isn't a social network; it's The Matrix], The Guardian

{{Google LLC}}

{{microblogging}}

{{online social networking}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Blog hosting services

Category:Defunct social networking services

Category:Defunct websites

Category:Discontinued Google services

Category:Discontinued Google software

Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2019

Category:Internet properties established in 2011

Category:Products and services discontinued in 2019

Category:Social information processing