Why Google+ Is More Like A Chocolate Factory Than A Facebook Killer

So it's been one week since I got access to Google+, and after setting up my profile and playing around for a little bit, I've finally figured out what my Google+ experience reminds me of: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

I know that's a bit abstract, but I promise, if you come with me, then you'll be in a state of... oh let's just get on with it.

1. The Media Frenzy Surrounding The Golden Ticket:
There has been a ton of hype about Google Plus: "Is it a Facebook Killer? Is Google continuing to take over the world? Why does Mark Zuckerberg have an account?" The articles go on and on. But amidst all of this hype, Google is still only providing access to a small number of early adopters at a time. The result is definitely more hype, like when the kids started finding their golden tickets. And just as Mike TV, Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, and Violet made us wonder; so too, Google Plus invitations beg the question: "How did they get invited to the party, and not me?" So we sit outside the gates of http://plus.google.com, wondering, dreaming, and hoping beyond hope that someone out there could get us in.

2. The Candy Man Can
Oh, but then the glorious day comes when you check your email and there's your golden ticket: "So and So has invited you to join Google+." Did anyone else run around singing and jumping on the bed with their four grandparents still in it? The invitation makes you feel like someone important. Suddenly you forget about commiserating with your other friends who didn't get an invite, and immediately post it to your Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, LinkedIn, and whatever other social media profile you have: "I GOT A GOOGLE+ INVITE!! ENVY MEEE!!"

3. The Snozzberries Taste Like Snozzberries!
Once inside the gates of Google Plus, this is where the correlations to Willy Wonka really sinks in. There are bright colors everywhere, and everything seems familiar, but with a whimsical twist. The Facebook friend list is now Google's Circles. Your likes and interests are now Sparks. Your news feed is now a chocolatey-good Stream. You run free among the gummy trees, and then something stops you short. You realize that this is all so fun, but there's hardly anyone here to play with. "Where are all my friends?" you hear a user say. "Did I just see an Oompa Loompa?" another questions. Yes it's true. Social networks are fun, but only when people are on them.

Like the Chocolate Factory and all of it's fantastic creations, I'm impressed by them, but left wondering what to do with them all. Google Plus' Hangouts allow for up to 10 people to join in a video chat. That's like the fizzy lifting drink: it's awesome, but trying to coordinate one-on-one video chatting is hard enough; trying to coordinate a group of 10 people feels a bit like floating ominously toward a giant fan. Of course, I haven't had a chance to try out the group video chat just yet, because there's no one to do it with. So I'll reserve final judgment of the feature until I've experienced it in all of it's glory, but at this time I'm not sure I'll use it all that much.

In fact, that pretty much sums up my impression of Google+: it's neat, has some interesting features, and certainly has a bit of imagination to it. However, all of my friends, co-workers, and acquaintances are still on Facebook, and Facebook isn't broken. I have not yet seen a clear reason why someone would choose Google+ over Facebook. Perhaps like me, they'll join because they're allowed to, and they want to see what all the fuss is about. But will they stay? Will they migrate over and delete/ignore their Facebook account? With all the pictures they've uploaded over the years, all the groups and fan pages they've joined, all the FarmVille points they've earned - it feels a bit like switching banks. The one bank already has all of your personal information and automatic payments set up - is the extra .5% interest really worth the hassle?

For me, I'm not convinced it is. However, I fully admit that the feeling may change. Google+ is just starting out, and the criticism that it's "just like Facebook" is probably more of a compliment for them. Google needs to focus on adding more socially innovative features (that are practical), and over time it may be a better option. Google Plus' mobile integration is already more promising, but it remains to be seen whether or not it will be a strategic stronghold.

One final thought: if Google integrates their relatively new Music Beta to their even newer Google+ (which they're more than likely to do), that may be the elevator that blasts them off into the sky with an Everlasting Gobstopper in hand.