Google Jealous?
Ha!
I’ve been saying it for a while now…
Social media is becoming so important that I can see the day when Web 2.0 might overtake traditional search.
Today, I read an article by Jodan McCollum over at SearchNewz: “Google Doesn’t Care About Social Media?” (3-19-09)
She’s quoting Pali Research analyst Richard Greenfield in this:
“The reason the company — Google — doesn’t care is that the basic functionality of social platforms like MySpace, Facebook and Twitter is diminishing the importance of search. He points to users growing inclination to search for specific information by tapping into friends and colleagues knowledge through platforms like Twitter’s own search product, as well Facebook’s status update tool.”
Ha!
Apparently, I’m not the only one wondering if search will become less relevant over time. I mean, if you want to check out the lunar space station, you wouldn’t go to Facebook, right? (Or maybe it has a Facebook account now, too, I’m not sure)
But if you want to know if a piece of software works, who would you ask? Someone who has used it, or several someones who have used it and get their opinions before you buy, right? Or, where would you go to get contact lenses online? Google will tell you where, but not how good the service is.
Years back, we Netizens just accepted what was served up to us. There was only interaction on Usenet or in IRC (Internet Relay Chat), but only a small segment of the population used those vehicles to communicate with peers. I loved it back in the mid-90’s and was often found in my Usenet home first thing in the morning to check up with friends.
But now EVERYbody is on Facebook or Twitter or MySpace or whatever, and I can communicate with them. I mean, I finally got my 71-year-old sister to sign up for a Facebook account, and she’s no slouch when it comes to computers. She just didn’t see the benefit. Guess what? Her attitude has changed because Facebook is just plain fun.
Although I think Google will still be around for a very long time to come, I also think that Google’s heyday of preaching to us what we can and can’t do online so that we’re its “good graces” will pass. The fact that Google seems to be kicking and screaming and NOT fully entering the social end of Web 2.0 just shows us how scary it is for them to think about.
I think that’s a good thing. Although Google is indeed a great free service and has tons of incredible features, I just think we’ve given the search engine too much power. It’s time that online, we at least get this slogan going again: “Power to the people!”
Alok
March 31st, 2009 at 2:38 am #
I don’t think that we can do without search engines. AS much as there are networking sites, there is a huge amount of information that the search engines optimise and make it easy for us to find. True we may have given google that sense of power, but then we need a another search engine to be promoted which is as good
Kay
March 31st, 2009 at 10:35 am #
I agree — I don’t think we’ll ever leave traditional search engines behind. They’re too useful. I can see traditional search fusing with social networks, though, as people search for things on Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, etc.
Google is just a company, and like all companies, must adapt to survive. Fifty years ago, Woolworth’s was a major player. Now? They’re basically out of business. The same thing might happen to Google.
BALASUBRAMANIAN
March 31st, 2009 at 10:59 am #
i thnk google is jealous definetly as it is copying facebook and adding games in orkut too………though orkut came into existence by a lonely person
Josie
April 1st, 2009 at 12:19 am #
I think you’ve perfectly stated Google’s achilles heel here:
“Google will tell you where, but not how good the service is.”
Google is good at what Google was intended to be good for and nothing more. Where Google lacks though, social networking sites more than compensates. I don’t see a day where Google is completely irrelevant because I think the desire to ’search” will always be around.
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April 1st, 2009 at 1:27 am #
You definitely think more deeply than I do.
Rob
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:28 am #
The more people are accustomed to being on a site and finding functionality with it, the more traditional search will become irrelevant. If you’re on a social networking site and have a search bar right there, you’re likely to use it, right? And if you get the results you want so much the better. As we head into the future, advertising budget, and search engines, will be splintered more and more. Google may have a heads up with their purchase of YouTube.com since that site is now the number two search engine just as Microsoft’s MSN Search loses its luster as people figure out the differences between a search form and an address bar and discover how to change their home page settings. You’ve got a good grasp on this subject, I’d like to know what you think about my comments too.
Pat Marcello
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:16 pm #
Hey Rob,
Right on! I agree that we’ll always need traditional search. There are things that social media, at least up to this point, don’t cover. But what about places like Angie’s List? When you think about home maintenance, that’s the first place I’d go. Social media is becoming more and more useful and powerful all the time.
I think you’re right on the money!
– Pat