Google+: The New, Better, Social Network?

Google is coming out with a new social network that could be the demise of Facebook's future. Well maybe not, but it is definitely out to make its name known.

Unlike Facebook, which uses tools to help you add more friends to gain a sense of presence in your social circle, Google+ will help you actually keep in touch with your friends by categorizing them in "circles" that you can control. You don't have updates on check-ins where you're at with your friends.

One thing that Facebook enables us to do is be more nosy, more vain and ultimately less social in doing so. If I go to a party, I could essentially, put the name and address of the location and update my whole friend list with a map. It is true that we control this information, but why should it present itself as an option?

Sometimes I feel like deleting some of the options, but there's no option for that. Google+ doesn't give you the selections to add locations of where you "check-in" or boxes you check to keep those stalkers from reaching you beyond your home page.

Instead, you can group people together in "circles" by categories you make up. "Hangouts" let's you tell people where you are hanging out and lets you control who you want to see it in case they'd like to join you and... drum roll please... it doesn't let you know with whom you are hanging out with. Therefore, if a friend's intention is to really hang out, your company shouldn't matter. Ah, how refreshing. 

Say goodbye to photo overload! "Instant Overload" allows you to automatically upload your photos to a private photo album on Google+. No more hassle with title, location, edit photos, customize photo, etc.

Speaking of customize: "Sparks" allows you to type in a bar (much like the Google bar) the things that interest you and that you like. It searches for your selections and finds things that potentially match your details. Now you have material available to you when you want to read or are bored. No more website stalking, consuming of endless media garbage. You are in charge of what you see.

Another favorite part of this new network is the "Huddle" function. Much like Blackberry messenger (only you don't have to have a Blackberry) and Yahoo messenger (minus the emoticons). Just pick out six of your friends and start a conversation on where to meet for dinner and chat away.

I am one to admit the social headaches from the feeds you get on your Facebook page and feeling lazy about changing the million settings to get rid of it. It used to be normal to say, "Facebook is for keeping in touch with friends and family." Now we have control of what we want people to see on so many levels that by the time we're done, your "friends" wonder why they can't reach you?

Somehow along the line we became obsessed with privacy because those options were given to us. Because of that, we were faced with etiquette. Because of etiquette, we were faced with some tough situations that socially were becoming too complex to deal with.

Take deleting a "friend" for instance. We thought it was oh so cool that we could add whoever we wanted, especially that girl from college that we used to run into from time to time or the ex of a best friend. Wasn't too fun when you actually run into that friend and forget her name (despite her being your friend on FB), or come to find out that your friend and ex are back together after that horrible break up. Ouch. Awkward. 

I just want to be able to go back and really keep in touch with those who are my friends without the constant changing of settings and layers of profile reading. I do not want to be able to see other people's lives through a kaleidescope of pictures, events, updates and emotions. I hope Google+ will be the solution for what we think is really keeping in touch and will help us restore what being a friend is. 

Would you opt to end your relationship with Facebook, if you could have a more susbstantial way of staying in touch with your friends? Take a tour of Google+ here:  http://www.google.com/+/demo/ and let us know if you think it will indeed improve our social lives.