It's a small world after all: Google+

By Annette Lindsay

 

Disney composer Robert B Sherman famously wrote "It's a small world (after all)".

 (http://disney.wikia.com/)

With technological advances in communication, and the introduction of the internet, this has never been so true. The internet knows no physical space, condensing our world with its increasing accessibility.

 Google + is one of the largest and fastest growing social networks used today (Globalwebindex, 2013). Users can share information and data via messages, photos and videos, while having access to other useful google products like Gmail, YouTube and Google Maps.





I chose to join Google + after watching the introductory videos. These videos convincingly marketed two key features that appeal to most social virtual network users: Community and Control (https://plus.google.com/).     

As Dr Roger Wilkinson mentioned in the first lecture, despite being more connected than ever through technology and transport, we are also more alone. To support this he offered Bryant Simon's statement "The sobering data suggested to these scholars a significant growth in social isolation". With less sense of 'social place' Google+ has cleverly developed and marketed a sense of community. It fosters sharing with family, friends and anyone with a mutual interest, in order to address feelings of disconnection.

The second important concept Google+ emphasises is control. While our world has become more attainable, we as individuals are further exposed. Michel Foucault argues that much like a panopticon prison, this virtual panopticon society that now exists imposes self-surveillance (Turkle, 1995, pp.247-248). However, even the prisoner with seemingly little power has choices to make e.g. rebel or conform, exercise or study, fries or mash. Google+ astutely reminds us of this and addresses our will to take back some power, by proclaiming it offers users more control and  better privacy options than other social networks.

In fact, 'your' choices seem to be the fundamental selling point of Google+. "We want to make Google better by including you, your relationships, and your interests" (https://plus.google.com/). By making us the subject we become the core of our surrounding virtual world, giving us a sense of place and identity. We become the centre of our own universe, much like the Disney ride, encompassed by a diverse, yet small world.

References

Globalwebindex (2013). Google+ In Depth. Retrieved from https://www.globalwebindex.net/              google- in-depth/

Icon search engine: Badge Google Icon:https://www.iconfinder.com/icons/14701            /badge_google_icon#size=128

Wilkinson, R. (2013). BA1002: Our space: networks, narratives, and the making of place, week 1 notes. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au