What Happened to Google+? The Story Behind Google's Biggest Ever Failure

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  • Опубліковано 30 січ 2025

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  • @HowItHappened
    @HowItHappened  3 роки тому +100

    Did you ever try Google+?

    • @acupuncturekid
      @acupuncturekid 3 роки тому +3

      Tried it for a month. And stopped

    • @Melinda61893
      @Melinda61893 3 роки тому

      I never tried using google+

    • @progaminoid
      @progaminoid 3 роки тому +1

      Nope done in 2018

    • @nightshift4587
      @nightshift4587 2 роки тому +4

      I liked it, because of an earlier feature where you could peruse images of people from other countries in they're custom clothing, some of the images were stunning, I haven't seen since images that good to be honest, they were taken so well.

    • @Y0za
      @Y0za 2 роки тому

      no never i didnt even know that its a social media site

  • @RondellKB
    @RondellKB 2 роки тому +129

    I think Google+ was a really good site, particularly before most of its features were separated into multiple apps, i.e. Hangouts. The one reason the product failed is because of Google's idiocy. Google has a knack for taking things that work, and breaking them in the name of "improving user experience", the only reason they haven't caused the death of UA-cam is that UA-cam has 0 competitors. Remember Inbox and all the hype around it? A year or two later it was discontinued.
    I have never seen a more volatile tech company in my life, as far as software products go. This behaviour also extends into their developer ecosystem. They would introduce a new API for Android and tout it as "the way forward", then a few years later, they deprecate it...

  • @Daktyl198
    @Daktyl198 Рік тому +76

    Google+ was the only social media site that I actually liked. The Circles feature was amazing, and the design was very modern compared to it's competitors at the time. A lot of casual social media users called it a ghost town, but the reality is that the Tech and Art communities were absolutely thriving on it. Uncountable numbers of posts were made daily in tech and art related groups. Ever since it shut down, I've never actively used another social media site again.
    Google once again ruining a great product.

    • @Kinaibhlan
      @Kinaibhlan 7 місяців тому +1

      yeah I loved the circles feature too. Can't believe no other social media platform has tried to emulate that feature after google plus went down

    • @Daktyl198
      @Daktyl198 7 місяців тому +1

      @@Kinaibhlan Facebook implemented a clone feature, but they hid it and never marketed it.

    • @jacquelinebruschi5207
      @jacquelinebruschi5207 16 днів тому

      Agreed 💯

  • @konnanina
    @konnanina Рік тому +45

    Anyone remember that hellish community called "Draw my oc" for and was for art and OCs? I swear this place could get an entire video of it's own explaining all it's dramas if it wasn't all lost.

    • @wehvxnwee
      @wehvxnwee Рік тому

      That sorta sounds familiar to me 👀

    • @Voucher765
      @Voucher765 Рік тому

      We had communities too mainly dedicated to railfans

    • @HatersHaveOpinion1
      @HatersHaveOpinion1 3 місяці тому

      I loved it

  • @papermoon5517
    @papermoon5517 2 роки тому +51

    man I miss Google plus. I made so many friends on there. fortunately I manage to stay in contact with a good amount of them after it went down but I never saw the rest of them again. 😞

    • @Poetry_God
      @Poetry_God 2 роки тому +1

      I love you papermoon

  • @autobahn4610
    @autobahn4610 3 роки тому +87

    Google+ had a few tech communities I was joined to which I really enjoyed. Even though that wasn't Google's aim really I appreciated it for what it was!

    • @HowItHappened
      @HowItHappened  3 роки тому +4

      Nice to hear a real life opinion! :)

    • @nicholashunt5230
      @nicholashunt5230 3 роки тому +6

      Yeah, the late 2015 redesign of Google+ placed a lot of emphasis on communities instead of anything else. It changed the vision of Google+ in a major way, yet it still failed. I'm surprised that the redesign wasn't actually mentioned in the video, but no biggie.

    • @jkkim3848
      @jkkim3848 2 роки тому

      Exactly i also joined various communities as well.it was really nice

    • @szewei85
      @szewei85 2 роки тому

      Haha same

  • @BackroomsWater
    @BackroomsWater 2 роки тому +68

    Ima be honest, I still miss it at times. I was a very “loyal” user to it (by loyal I mean I used it a lot and thought it was good so I’d recommend it to other people and tell them about it lmao) and used it nonstop everyday 24/7. Mades loads of friends and had tons of fun, but also had tons of bad things happen such as people harassing me or friends for the dumbest things.
    Unfortunately when it got deleted, I lost all that and at least 5 almost 6 years worth of art and characters as well as friends who I never could find a way to find again.
    So, it was fun while it existed, but at the same time, I’m glad that it’s gone because of all the bad shit and drama that was unnecessarily shoved into your throat for no reason.

    • @ThatOneAmpharos
      @ThatOneAmpharos 2 роки тому +11

      Same bro, When I first got a smart phone I was using G+ and UA-cam all day. I still use UA-cam and I love G+ still to this day, I hope to experience that app once more. I don't use Instagram or Snapchat, The only social media playform I love to heart is UA-cam and g+. Nostalgic

    • @killnaomi
      @killnaomi Рік тому +1

      Odd how u ain’t notice a decrease in users over the span of however long u used it to not think about backing up /transferring ur data. And to keep years of artwork on one single cloud service that could be shut down at any point and have everything lost was kinda stupid 2 begin with l. Either way it sucks 2 lose allat n a buncha friends but life goes on 😅

  • @virologiclist25akajoshp82
    @virologiclist25akajoshp82 2 роки тому +29

    I honestly remember using Google Plus a lot in my middle school and early high School Days until the day the plug got pulled I lost most of all my social media friends sadly and truly.

    • @maria-melek
      @maria-melek 2 роки тому +5

      Me too, I had it in middle school, before Instagram. I still remember a few things I posted or the boards I used to follow. I honestly had no idea it was shutdown until today when I remembered it and wanted to pay the past a visit.

    • @virologiclist25akajoshp82
      @virologiclist25akajoshp82 2 роки тому +5

      @@maria-melek sadly we'll only have our memories of our list online loved ones.

    • @nullMusi
      @nullMusi 2 роки тому +3

      Same, I had some good memories from g+

    • @szewei85
      @szewei85 2 роки тому +1

      Well cant imagine the catastrophy if G+ continues on beyond pandemic

  • @nicholashunt5230
    @nicholashunt5230 3 роки тому +29

    Well, Google is now planning to "wind down" Google Currents in 2023 and migrate its users to Google Chat.
    The last remnant of Google+ will soon be no more... 😞

  • @adam985185
    @adam985185 2 роки тому +17

    Anyone else remember the "This is Bob, copy and paste him so he can take down Google+" memes?

  • @ClassicallyChristion
    @ClassicallyChristion 2 роки тому +15

    I loved google plus and I really enjoyed the communities I was a part of on there. Google killed it itself by trying to fix something that wasn't broken.

  • @GatorBoyXD
    @GatorBoyXD 2 роки тому +14

    I remember many use G+ as RolePlaying. I was there and Communities was the best way to make friends for liking a genre or video game fan. It was fun

  • @Glaze_TPF
    @Glaze_TPF 2 роки тому +15

    google + was the wild west of social medias
    i miss it so much :(

  • @FutureRevolut10nary
    @FutureRevolut10nary Рік тому +9

    I remember when I started using Google Plus when I was getting severely bullied in school. I had fun, but I'm pretty sure I was being groomed by someone I talked to everyday, idk why. But I was heartbroken when they suddenly stopped talking to me.

  • @pp3k3jamail
    @pp3k3jamail 2 роки тому +11

    💥💥 I miss Google plus I was in a lot of groups on that site from when I used it from 2012-2017

  • @Raxxer1993Q8
    @Raxxer1993Q8 Рік тому +9

    Only made that sh*t because it was the only way to keep my (current) UA-cam account. It was disgusting forced on us.

  • @ThatOneAmpharos
    @ThatOneAmpharos 2 роки тому +3

    I still remember liking photos of cars and nature. I feel it like yesterday, I hope to experience that time once more

  • @ricksilvas855
    @ricksilvas855 2 роки тому +6

    Oh man... my Nexus S and Google + in 2011 was such a fun experience. Google + was fun but just always an odd kinda thing to me. It had a lot of cool features but had a learning curve to it.

  • @Agent56000
    @Agent56000 Рік тому +7

    The trolls on Google plus tho oh my god. That was a thrill of a ride

    • @bloodwork993
      @bloodwork993 9 місяців тому +1

      Yeah but it was fun too tbh

  • @mistahrobb963
    @mistahrobb963 2 роки тому +13

    It had almost everything you wanted, but the circles need work. It felt kinda forced. The site was very hard to navigate for new comers. There wasn't really a reason to switch. Oh and the data breaches.

  • @Miloboa
    @Miloboa Рік тому +3

    I used to be an avid user in 2014. I made some good internet friends I still talk to about video games. It was a decent site

  • @thelamp091
    @thelamp091 2 роки тому +9

    I spent my early middle school years with Google+ and it was fun back then :) Had a lot of friendship and a popular local community... Rememberin all those art sharing, memes, questions feels kinda bitter haha. It was a short but pleasant phase.

  • @nicholashunt5230
    @nicholashunt5230 3 роки тому +9

    This video came much quicker than I expected it to (and certainly much quicker than "a couple of weeks" like what was previously said)! Nice work!
    Also, why is the "Google+" logo in the thumbnail unusually dark?

    • @HowItHappened
      @HowItHappened  3 роки тому +2

      Glad you enjoyed it!
      The normal Google logo clashed with our coral theme. And the red O and E were hard to make out at all. We might change it to all black to make it more similar to our other thumbnails of black/white on coral 😊

    • @nicholashunt5230
      @nicholashunt5230 3 роки тому +2

      @@HowItHappened Yeah, you should probably do that. Google+ had a white logo and a black logo.

  • @Wooord
    @Wooord 2 роки тому +9

    Ngl I miss G+ I used it for a good 3/4 years :[
    I met all talented and weird people but it was fun in general
    Can’t believe I lost contacts with them all (except one person and it’s been like 6/7 years now since we’ve known each other)

    • @Noogynator
      @Noogynator 2 роки тому +5

      im so mad it got deleted and mad that my dumb younger self never thought to download all my data. all those memories gone.

    • @herambhasabnis6949
      @herambhasabnis6949 2 роки тому +1

      Same bro same.

  • @Lpsophiy
    @Lpsophiy 6 місяців тому +1

    i miss it so much😭😭i had soooo many pictures that are gone now, i wish i could get them back, they hold so many memories from my childhood/teen years💔

  • @LilacDaisy2
    @LilacDaisy2 Рік тому +3

    Starts at 4:08

  • @emanuelly.santos
    @emanuelly.santos 4 місяці тому +1

    I was on Google+ when I was an eeny-miny preteen, and I found my bff there, so I do hold it near my heart. I remember quite liking my experience there; the Circles and Communities functions were awesome, the feed design was sleek and the young otakus were thriving. Too bad it's dead now.

  • @bronumero7334
    @bronumero7334 3 роки тому +13

    The shit that went down on this site, yall aint ready.

    • @virologiclist25akajoshp82
      @virologiclist25akajoshp82 2 роки тому +4

      Big facts

    • @papermoon5517
      @papermoon5517 2 роки тому

      honestly. it was so wild.

    • @DennisHenleyIsAHolyMan
      @DennisHenleyIsAHolyMan Рік тому

      nothing happened there it was all good and chill

    • @monet.t.t
      @monet.t.t 10 місяців тому +1

      @@DennisHenleyIsAHolyManit was not chill it was crazy bro 😂 i have so many ss, it depends on what communities you were in though.

  • @SimilakChild
    @SimilakChild 2 роки тому +5

    Google+ was the only legit way to get verified on UA-cam with a very low subscriber count. too bad its not available anymore.

  • @johnstriker480
    @johnstriker480 Рік тому +2

    FORCED to join a social network that no one EVER wanted any part with....just for posting a simple comment >:-(

  • @DesoloZantas
    @DesoloZantas Рік тому +2

    They have transformed their UA-cam platform into more of a social media network, and this transition is gradually taking place.

  • @aag21youtube29
    @aag21youtube29 11 місяців тому +1

    I hope they bring it back. It was more of meeting your people. The right circle for you.

  • @monet.t.t
    @monet.t.t 10 місяців тому +6

    i would sell a kidney to bring back google plus. it was my childhood from 2014-17

  • @Science1234-r6f
    @Science1234-r6f 8 місяців тому +1

    common people don't deserve high quality products like google +, they didn't support it back then and now, all of us are badly missing it.

  • @dissident_media
    @dissident_media Рік тому +3

    I assumed it died in 2015 or something. It was still around until 2019?

  • @settrender
    @settrender Рік тому +1

    they should bring back google+ to compete with more professional/career social media platforms like linked in. I think they would be really receptive

  • @Thestatequarter2001
    @Thestatequarter2001 4 місяці тому

    My cousins grandpa still has google+ to his day but it’s on his old phone that he doesn’t use anymore

  • @blackamus
    @blackamus Рік тому +1

    I rocked with G+. I wish they didn't shut it down.

  • @ChunkyLoverMark
    @ChunkyLoverMark Рік тому

    I think the biggest question is what happened with Vic Gundotra, when he left all of the innovation went with him. Just as things were picking up momentum he announced he was leaving and things were never the same from that point.

  • @Daemur123
    @Daemur123 3 місяці тому

    I only searched what google+ was because of smb crossover

  • @UndetectedKiIler
    @UndetectedKiIler Рік тому +1

    Didn't see the point of Google+ it. It was being forced on OG youtube users and everyone hated it. All it ever was is an excuse to tie Google login into personal user data

  • @candycologne840
    @candycologne840 3 роки тому +12

    I personally think it partly failed because they overestimated how many friends we actually have..and how close we are to those “mutuals” ..most people on social media are acquaintances, not FRIENDS friends, so they were essentially forcing friendships to be closer than they really are. Unless you were in an office setting, it just seemed like glorified office email service for people who didn’t need it. Circles was visually awkward as well. Only white collar workers cared for it because it’s basically a glorified office email software…it didnt appeal to the masses which are mostly blue collar people.. it needed to be more individualistic., it was TOO social for social media.

  • @blademonger6179
    @blademonger6179 Рік тому +2

    Is Google still failing society if other platforms' search results can be more accurate in comparisons of search results?

  • @LilacDaisy2
    @LilacDaisy2 Рік тому +1

    I had made many friends on UA-cam through G+ and spent many hours a week using it. I've never like F.

  • @youwayo
    @youwayo Рік тому +1

    I remember that stupid “Real Name policy”.

  • @CyberPodMark2
    @CyberPodMark2 3 роки тому +2

    Is it possible for Google Plus to come back to 2022? I still have mewe that similar to google plus.

  • @DennisHenleyIsAHolyMan
    @DennisHenleyIsAHolyMan Рік тому +4

    i loved sharing my art on Google Plus

  • @JamesGalaxy41
    @JamesGalaxy41 Рік тому +3

    I really miss google +

  • @dreamhollow
    @dreamhollow Рік тому

    A nice and tidy video. Thank you.

  • @JohnS-il1dr
    @JohnS-il1dr 9 місяців тому +1

    I hated Google plus because it forced me to join without my consent and the ability to use UA-cam. Felt like a hostage.

  • @MamaFeng
    @MamaFeng 2 роки тому +3

    I liked the communities (or whatever they were called)
    In particular, there was this **ahem** yaoi centered one, which allowed nsfw content and I met a lot of cool people. And it was active too! A lot of artists posting daily. Sadly, it either got hacked or someone was wrongly trusted with moderator capabilities, and all of the posts got deleted and it was renamed with homophobic slurs.
    Eh. Sooner or later I guess, since the whole software was discontinued shortly after.

  • @wilsonblock1000
    @wilsonblock1000 2 роки тому +3

    I miss Google+ 😢

  • @Johnny_Vanduke
    @Johnny_Vanduke 5 місяців тому

    Man this ironically enough used to be my favorite social media site. But it was so heavily under developed and its community was just a noir version of Reddit

  • @bielaggs
    @bielaggs Рік тому

    Orkut was extremely popular in Brazil and India, more than MySpace

  • @NicoTriesOS
    @NicoTriesOS 2 роки тому +3

    I used to use g+

  • @Kenji_Endo
    @Kenji_Endo 2 роки тому +1

    Lol I was wondering why you said orkut didnt work out, but I'm from Brasil so that makes sense

  • @davidwhitaker2211
    @davidwhitaker2211 Рік тому

    I actually miss it. It was fun for a while, and i wish it could come back. If it was back to the way it was with more moderation, I definitely would use it again, probably more than I use Facebook (which is very rare)

  • @theoriginalbrianguillen235
    @theoriginalbrianguillen235 Рік тому

    I first used google+ in the beginning In 2015 when I had my 2nd phone called the zte zinger I got for Christmas in 2014, I really miss it

  • @ClarkTitorTrueArchives
    @ClarkTitorTrueArchives 3 місяці тому

    I gonna be honest, it wasnt the quality of the site that killed it but its forced integration with UA-cam.
    All of that backlash made no one want anything to do with it.

  • @dott8348
    @dott8348 2 роки тому +2

    I just came here, because i only just remembered about it

  • @adame7843
    @adame7843 2 роки тому +2

    What happened was Bob and his army

  • @chucke.cheese2212
    @chucke.cheese2212 Рік тому

    It felt good trolling different users on Google+. 😂 Sad to see it’s gone. 😢

  • @c88rrado
    @c88rrado 2 роки тому +1

    720p?

  • @blazeb2150
    @blazeb2150 5 місяців тому

    Wished I used it more as a kid, I remember the real david hasselhoff followed me.

  • @owencamo2
    @owencamo2 2 роки тому

    they should just learn from their mistakes and dont do that. Removing an entire platform just puts people off.

  • @quatie
    @quatie 3 роки тому +5

    I loved it

    • @HowItHappened
      @HowItHappened  3 роки тому +2

      Hopefully you loved the video too! 😉

  • @johncooper9727
    @johncooper9727 2 роки тому +1

    i miss google + and wish it had become the "facebook"

  • @AndreeaCe
    @AndreeaCe Місяць тому

    Yeah, well most androids have Google as OS, so Facebook is mounted on Google and not vice versa. Things that went on...
    On both platforms, human trafficking happen.

  • @szewei85
    @szewei85 2 роки тому +1

    Haha b4 reddit G+ used 2 be my shit especially on samsung galaxy hangouts

  • @SemteXDealer
    @SemteXDealer 2 роки тому +1

    This was literally forced on me, I never used it & was glad when it failed. Nazis

  • @mdfaizanyt
    @mdfaizanyt 2 роки тому

    i find my first...hmm..u know what i maen , i find my first on g+ but after shutting down i almost shattered from inside

  • @ineedzemedic5810
    @ineedzemedic5810 Рік тому

    Google plus was a fucking outrageous app so many funny things orginated from that app

  • @shemarmagee7311
    @shemarmagee7311 Рік тому

    I used to use this so much lol but i was in some weird hangouts

  • @eyeCU13
    @eyeCU13 2 роки тому

    Even the name was all wrong!
    It should've been: G+

  • @Melinda61893
    @Melinda61893 3 роки тому +2

    Google will always be better than google+

  • @williamhickey9660
    @williamhickey9660 7 місяців тому

    We love google plus about nine years
    We will fix it once and once all

  • @itsjotime
    @itsjotime 2 роки тому

    I miss it it was cool and I remember they added the photo enhancement and editing feature it was great seems everything is shutting down yahoo answers blackberry and g+

  • @DuskyLark
    @DuskyLark Рік тому

    Google + really was the premices of reddit

  • @blastradius7193
    @blastradius7193 11 місяців тому

    Im pretty close to giving up the Internet all together just to remove Google from my life

  • @fshsidvh
    @fshsidvh Рік тому

    i missed google+ so much...

  • @Mister.420
    @Mister.420 2 роки тому

    I actually didn’t mind Google+ when it was out. I like how it was tied with your UA-cam account.

  • @matejnosal3735
    @matejnosal3735 2 роки тому +2

    Google is successful in social media. Have you ever been on UA-cam?

  • @luridfox
    @luridfox 10 місяців тому

    It was a fantastic idea that was executed poorly and far too late

  • @cookingdilsewithdolly1168
    @cookingdilsewithdolly1168 Рік тому

    Who is Googol

  • @hannailkinpromopage-canada4958
    @hannailkinpromopage-canada4958 2 роки тому

    Prophet Hanna's google + happened, year 2011

  • @RaulCarlos-bh7wc
    @RaulCarlos-bh7wc 7 місяців тому

    I still have it

  • @PirateOfTheNorth
    @PirateOfTheNorth 2 місяці тому

    I miss Google+

  • @georgipress
    @georgipress 9 місяців тому

    and that's why I don't use google apps.

  • @mikefps37
    @mikefps37 2 роки тому +2

    You do know Facebook released in 2001 not in 2022 Google Plus came out in what 2010 I think do the math

    • @HowItHappened
      @HowItHappened  2 роки тому +4

      You might wanna double check the date of Facebook’s release…

    • @rileyl7129
      @rileyl7129 2 роки тому +8

      Google plus came out in 2011 and Facebook came out in 2004 lol

  • @Hazbeans
    @Hazbeans 9 місяців тому

    I kinda liked it, goodbye g+

  • @UndetectedKiIler
    @UndetectedKiIler Рік тому

    Good riddance to bad rubbish

  • @sagicorn7232
    @sagicorn7232 7 місяців тому

    I loved G+... Facebook is trash

  • @emiliobello2538
    @emiliobello2538 2 роки тому

    Terrible

  • @parshakamarsh
    @parshakamarsh 3 роки тому +5

    The robot voice on these videos is really annoying