The Racquette

Issue date: 2/26/10 Section: News

On February 9, 2010, Google launched a new social-networking tool known as "Google Buzz."

Much like Facebook and Twitter, Google Buzz allows its users to inform their friends, and others who may be "following" them, with status updates, links, videos and other things. While the idea of Google Buzz doesn't seem so far off from what has been established as the norm by other social-networking sites, it was hit by a wave of criticism because of its privacy issues.

Initially when a person would activate Google Buzz, it would automatically check for the people the user has emailed most frequently and then add them as followers of their page. According to the Canadian Broadcast Company, this invaded people's privacy by not allowing the user to hide contacts that they feel should be private.

If you plan to update your Google Buzz from your mobile phone, you will also have to deal with even greater privacy issues. When you update from your phone, Google Buzz will publish your exact location. Not only does this service allow people to see exactly what you're thinking about, it will also let them see exactly where you are when you post.

Also at issue is the way that Google Buzz has been integrated into pre-existing Google tools. Google Profiles, which was advertised as a way for people to have an electronic business card, has integrated Google Buzz in such a way that some people are finding it hard to continue using it for its original purpose.  While initially Google Profiles had an "About Me" section in which the user could write an introductory paragraph about their personality and work ethic, this has been replaced by a Google Buzz feed. This is dangerous for people who like to keep their professional and social lives separate. If you decide that you don't want Buzz anymore, the only way to get rid of it is to delete your Google Profile along with Google Buzz, starting over from scratch.

While Google promises to work with its users to find a solution to these problems, it is hard to see just when these changes will actually take place. If you want to try out Google Buzz, simply log onto your Gmail account and click "yes" when prompted. Keep one thing in mind when updating though: someone will always be watching.

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