According to an article in TechCrunch, the results of
Subtracting Features
Google+ profiles will no longer be part of its regular accounts, including removing it from its universal toolbar. Previously, it served as a shared identity across all aspects of using Google. However, this caused problems for users that did not necessarily want to share that identity everywhere. Where it became a real pain was if a user had multiple Google accounts.
Google Photos already is not a part of Google+ but more features are also creating a distance between themselves and this social site. For example, YouTube is breaking up with Google+ so a user will no longer be required to have a Google+ account in order to leave comments or share videos from YouTube. Users can also remove their Google+ profiles from YouTube.
This was one feature that I personally loved as it helped us compete easier with bigger brands. But appears that Google will be separating this from their main product.
Adding Social Aspects
Just because parts of its equation are being subtracted from Google+ does not mean it is dead. To keep its equation balanced, more social aspects and engagement features will make up the heart of this social platform.
Features that will stay and be further exploited include Google+ Collections and Hangouts, which provide a way for users to focus on shared interests and related content that bring these users together.
Will it Work?
Whether Google+ continues to live and breathe as a social network or it requires further life support measures remains to be seen. While shared interests were at the core of most successful social networks when they started, most have evolved into providing much more in terms of content that users need and want.
Google will most likely have to rethink how to make Google+ more social and relevant, leveraging all that incredible data that it has about its users in a more dynamic way.
