>(Youtube) to promote G+
Google+ was never intended to be a product in itself. Google+ is Google's social layer. Providing social features to other Google products was always the plan for Google+.
Google+ was never intended to be a product in itself. Google+ is Google's social layer. Providing social features to other Google products was always the plan for Google+.
September 2011: "Until now, every single Google property acted like a separate company. Due to the way we grew, through various acquisitions and the fierce independence of each division within Google, each product sort of veered off in its own direction. That was dizzying. But Google+ is Google itself. We’re extending it across all that we do—search, ads, Chrome, Android, Maps, YouTube—so that each of those services contributes to our understanding of who you are." http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/09/ff_google_horowitz/2/
October 2011: "The strategy is revealed in the name," Gundotra agreed. "We chose the smallest modifier we could. Just a plus." But the shift it represents is not small. Plus is now a social layer built into all Google's Web products." http://readwrite.com/2011/10/19/sergey_brin_vic_gundotra_on_...
March 2012: “This is just the next version of Google,” Mr. Gundotra said, noting that he sees Google Plus as a social blanket that envelopes the entire Google experience. “Everything is being upgraded. We already have users. We’re now upgrading them to what we consider Google 2.0.” http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/google-defending-go...
Doesn't get any clearer than that. People just assumed it was spin at the time so focused on the FB-aspect of it. Instead turns out they actually meant every word, and things are finally on track as far as they're concerned.
The only cure if you disagree with the vision is to stop using Google products altogether.
That said, it's obviously got a lot of warts, like promoting Plus power-users over the regular subscribers. Say what you want about Reddit, but at least the infamous karma-farmers get a lot of legitimate upvotes before they bubble to the top and don't pop in their^H^H^H^H^Hthere automatically on the strength of their reputations.
This "popping-in" reminds me of Digg somehow.