The Buzz on Google Buzz

Last week Google launched Google Buzz, their new social networking app that mimics features of both Facebook and Twitter. Users are able to post status updates as well as read and comment on the statuses of their followers and followees (“friends” in Facebook world). Google Buzz also allows users to share videos, pictures, and web links. Currently it is only available to those with a Gmail account. Google’s spokeswoman has discussed the possibility of Buzz being offered as a standalone application in the future. Buzz was created as a direct response to Facebook and its success. Starting with its introduction six years ago, Facebook has taken advertising sales revenue from Google. The popular social networking site keeps users’ information from being indexed on Google’s search engine. Gmail adds Facebook, Twitter-like features.

Buzz has encountered some problems during its first week in existence. A privacy issue has been uncovered that I know would put me in panic mode if I were a Buzz user. The application automatically makes your frequent email contacts your followers and followees, and this list is made public for all to see. I personally would not want the whole Buzz world to know who I am emailing. That is private information. I definitely would not want everyone I email to become one of my followees. And I would not necessarily want to follow them. I use my Gmail account to email professors and to communicate with group members for class projects. These are people I don’t know very well, and I do not want them seeing my status updates, pictures, etc. It’s unnerving that Google would make this setting the default.

Since the launch of Buzz, Google has made some adjustments to their privacy settings. Users can choose whether to display their followers and followees on their public profile. There is also the option to block people who have started following you. Google has created a blog to address these and other concerns. Google tweaks Buzz after privacy concerns

After reading these articles I logged into my Gmail account and was surprised to see that Buzz was automatically turned on. I was able to see the picture and status update for a classmate in my International Ethics class. We have been emailing a lot recently since our group has been working on a presentation for next weekend. I hardly even know this guy. Needless to say, I decided to turn Buzz off.