Google+

Associated With

Google - creator or operator

Defining Feature

Profiles, sharing, conversations, events, communities and photo features linked through Google accounts

Status

Discontinued - Consumer Google+ was sunset in April 2019

Overview

Google launched Google+ in 2011 as a social network built across its wider account and service ecosystem.

Circles organised contacts, while Hangouts, Communities, Events and photo tools supported conversation and sharing. By June 2012, Google also offered native mobile apps and a tablet version.

The consumer network closed in April 2019 after Google moved the shutdown forward from August. The accelerated timetable followed the discovery of a bug affecting a Google+ API.

Why It Mattered

Google+ demonstrated how a social network could be integrated with sharing, photographs, comments and video conversations across a larger service ecosystem. Google reported more than 250 million upgrades by June 2012, although that figure did not establish the size of the active audience.

Early Service Expansion

• Google dated the project’s start to 2011.
• By June 2012, Google reported that more than 250 million people had upgraded to Google+.
• Native mobile apps, a tablet version and Events were available by June 2012.

Sharing and Communities

• Google later added topic-based Communities.
• Sharing, photographs, comments and Hangouts were integrated into the service.

Accelerated Consumer Shutdown

• Google moved the consumer shutdown from August to April 2019.
• The accelerated timetable followed the discovery of a bug affecting a Google+ API.
• Google also said its Google+ APIs would close within 90 days of the December 2018 notice.

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