Google Shutting Down Google+ Social Community

Get Your FREE The Beginners Guide to SEO

In a fast-paced, dynamic field such as SEO, it is crucial to stay well-informed. Even seasoned SEO experts understand the need to keep on learning lest they become obsolete. Emerging trends. Algorithmic changes. Technological advancements. These are some of the few things every SEO professional should be watching out for. But if you haven’t been keeping an eye on these for whatever reason, don’t worry. We’ve got your covered.

Download Now

Google Shutting Down Google+ Social Community

3



Google is shutting down Google+ which is the social network launched in mid-2011. The official announcement came via their blog in which Google revealed an undisclosed security flaw which may have affected up to 500,000 accounts. This security bug seems to have been active from 2015 and was patched in March 2018.

The security bug allowed third-party developers to access Google+ user profile data. Essentially, once the G+ user allowed permission to an app to access their public profile data, the security bug allowed the app developers to mine some data like names, email addresses, gender, birth dates, profile photos, places lived, occupation, and relationship status.

That being said, Google believes that there is no indication that the above mentioned data was misused via the apps that may have had access. Google+ for consumers will be sun-setting in August 2019, however, the enterprise version will still be available via G-Suite.

Also, Google revealed that Google+ has “low usage and engagement” and that “90 percent of Google+ user sessions are less than five seconds.” You can read more about Project Strobe which was their security audit project.

Though Google+ was a ghost town, many people including me, enjoyed the ad-free social network. There is petition being signed to keep this social network alive (see link below).

– Google+ Official Announcement: https://plus.google.com/+googleplus/posts/ENCsBdhZC4W
– Project Strobe Blog Post: https://www.blog.google/technology/safety-security/project-strobe/
– Petition To Keep G+: https://www.change.org/p/google-inc-don-t-shut-down-google-plus-54f15bea-1d8c-4be9-a53f-e2ceee1302f4

CREDITS: Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission | Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are trademarks, or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Logos and screenshots used with permission from Microsoft | Other company names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

MUSIC CREDITS:
Song: How it Began by Silent Partner
Source: YouTube Music Library (Permission to use for commercial purposes on YouTube monetized videos)

source