When I heard about Google Buzz, the first thought that went through my head was, "I wonder if this is going to be similar like Yahoo! Buzz?"

Yes.

Yahoo! did this a long time ago. All who use Yahoo! Buzz raise your hand.

[insert sound of crickets chirping here]

That’s what I thought.

I usually don’t share the same opinion of large web companies, but Microsoft panned it, so did Yahoo, and so do I. It is just another useless social network. I’m not saying Microsoft or Yahoo! are any better at the social media thing than Google is, but Google Buzz adds absolutely nothing new to the table. In fact, it’s just another one of those things labeled as "social" that gets in your way more than anything else.

Is this indicative that social media has gone as far as it can go?

Quite possibly.

One thing that major web companies have never been able to realize is that when it comes to social media, people do in fact prefer contained environments.

I’ll try my best to explain what that means.

When people hear "Facebook", the idea is that of a place where you can share updates, upload a few photos, maybe a few videos and have conversation with friends. That is the whole point of the site.

When people hear "Google", people aren’t thinking "Okay, that’s a social network". They think search, as in internet search.

When people hear "Windows Live", the same applies. Nobody considers Windows Live to be a social platform whatsoever. Email? Yes. Instant messaging? Yes. Social? No.

The problem with Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft is that they don’t follow UNIX philosophy, which is to do one thing and do it well. Instead what each of them do is shove so much s**t in your face it’s just plain ridiculous. It’s as if they’re all saying, Share status updates! Blog! Post photos! Post videos! Contacts! Do it! Do it all here! Please?

How about no? We already have Twitter, MySpace and Facebook, and they do the social thing far better.

Google has a very good set of web products. So does Microsoft. So does Yahoo. But they’re all terrible at social media and should just quit while their ahead.

Now instead of two large web companies that have stinkers for social networks, we have three. Oh, joy.

Are you buzzed about Google Buzz? I’m not, but you may be. Let us know by writing a comment or two.

Like what you read?

If so, please join over 28,000 people who receive our exclusive weekly newsletter and computer tips, and get FREE COPIES of 5 eBooks we created, as our gift to you for subscribing. Just enter your name and email below: