Facebook vs. Google +

Battle has gone worse. Google+ (G+) has taken on Facebook (FB) by opening up the gates to the world 2 days ago. Now anyone can join G+ without an invitation. Also, FB has redesigned its user interface to “better express who you are” & have added many features such as subscription, ticker. Google has been trying hard for past 3-4 years to crack the puzzle called “Social Networking” with attempts such as buzz, Google wave. It’s been more than 3 months G+ has come into picture with a controlled release through invitations. Paul Allen (G+’s unofficial statistician) puts recent G+ user base at around 43 million. FB is at 750million. There is no comparison right now. FB has been enjoying sheer dominance in Social Networking space for a considerable time now. Social Networking has become a place to be. Businesses have realized this too. FB has been able to make inroads into Google’s play ground - “Internet Advertising” & that’s making Google uncomfortable.


If features are to be compared, both the sites are almost neck to neck with the exception of Privacy controls (Lists in FB, Circles in G+), Group Video chat (Hangouts in G+). The wall looks almost similar. FB has a strong developer community & application base. G+ has just opened their API (Application programming Interface) for developers to try out the platform. G+ has strong parent, Google, which has many more services like Calendar, Docs, and Reader to integrate with Social Network.

Both entities are facing challenges. With the huge user base FB is catering to, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to introduce changes especially the way user interface works. If it decides to discontinue some feature which is even if used by a small fraction of users, these users go crazy. Satisfaction index goes down. It will be interesting to analyze how the change in an interface has gone down with the users. On the other hand G+ is having its own set of issues. There are very few things to engage users on G+. The stream of updates seems quiet with very few updates. It’s boring for someone who has just shifted from FBs happening wall. There are just 16 games available. Games have been the most scintillating thing on FB with the games like Farmville, City Ville from Zynga.


There are people with different psyche. Some people like changes in day to day things. Some don’t. There are people who are complaining about new FB look. Some might have shifted G+. Some like to try out new things. Some like to stick with existing ones. G+ users are excited & very receptive to changes they are making. The people who are reluctant to try new things will continue to use FB in the whatsoever form it is. FB changes always look like a knee jerk reaction of something, but people have got used to it. The war is on & it’s not going end anytime soon.

Where this all is heading? My sense is that, Social Networking sites will no longer remain the way to connect with your friends. Social Networking is at its nascent state. Opportunities are abundant. Currently it’s being injected in our life one small droplet a day and its overall effects are still to be felt. Remember how difficult it was to raise money for a social cause? Now it’s just few clicks away. Social revolutions are being planned, propelled through networks. Every business is having an icon on their packing saying “Like us on FB.” Networks are going to be the way in which we all will be reached by everyone – living & non-living things.


No one knows who is going to win this. My take - FB is going to stay but G+ will also its own say. For us it’s a good thing. Competition has got healthy.