Google Buzz

Google Buzz
Type of site
Social networking service
Available inMultilingual
Predecessor(s)Google Wave (2009–2010)
Successor(s)Google+ (2011–2019)
OwnerGoogle
URLFormer location: www.google.com/buzz
CommercialYes
RegistrationRequired
LaunchedFebruary 9, 2010; 14 years ago (2010-02-09)
Current statusDiscontinued – December 15, 2011; 12 years ago (2011-12-15)

Google Buzz was a social networking, microblogging and messaging tool developed by Google.[1] It replaced Google Wave and was integrated into their web-based email program, Gmail.[2][3] Users could share links, photos, videos, status messages and comments organized in "conversations" and visible in the user's inbox.[4]

On October 14, 2011, Google announced that it would discontinue the service and that the existing content would be available in read-only mode.[5] Buzz was discontinued on December 15, 2011, and superseded by Google+ (which was later discontinued on April 2, 2019).[6][7]

Buzz enabled users to choose to share publicly with the world or privately to a group of friends each time they posted.[8] Picasa, Flickr, Google Latitude, Google Reader, Google Sidewiki, YouTube, Blogger, FriendFeed, identi.ca and Twitter were integrated. The creation of Buzz was seen by industry analysts as an attempt by Google to compete with social networking websites like Facebook and microblogging services like Twitter.[2] Buzz also included several user interface elements from other Google products (e.g., Google Reader), such as the ability to "like" a post.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin said that by offering social communications, Buzz would help bridge the gap between work and leisure,[9] but the service was strongly criticized when it was introduced for insufficient attention to users' privacy.[10]

  1. ^ "11 Old Social Media Platforms You Probably Forgot Existed". Mental Floss. September 20, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Guynn, Jessica (February 9, 2010). "Google aims to rival Facebook with new social feature called "Buzz"". LA Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  3. ^ Edwards, Andru (February 9, 2010). "Google Buzz announced". Gearlive. Archived from the original on February 28, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  4. ^ Herrman, John (February 9, 2010). "Live From Google's February Event: Google Gets Twittery". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on November 7, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  5. ^ Love, Dylan. "Google Buzz, The Social Network No One Cared About, Is Finally Going Offline". Business Insider. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "Official Google Blog: A fall sweep". Archived from the original on November 23, 2011. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
  7. ^ "Google Buzz is going away, but your posts are yours to keep". Archived from the original on November 22, 2011. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  8. ^ Blog announcement Archived 2010-02-11 at the Wayback Machine, gmailblog.blogspot.com
  9. ^ Helft, Miguel (February 9, 2010). "With Buzz, Google Plunges Into Social Networking". NY Times. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  10. ^ Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (February 2010). "Privacy commissioner reviewing Google Buzz". CBC News. Archived from the original on February 18, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2010.