Google +1 = Social Overload

31.03.2011
I'm not sure how to say this, but I'm starting to think I might be antisocial.

It's not because I've spoken to more smartphones than humans today, mind you -- no, that's just part of an average Thursday. My newfound sentiment stems from the fact that I'm completely unmoved by Google's new social search effort, . If anything, I'm actually mildly annoyed by it.

Google +1 officially on Wednesday and is being rolled out to users as we speak. The service is kind of like , only instead of broadcasting your approval on some sort of wall, Google +1 puts your recommendation right into your friends' search results. Google's +1 button will soon appear next to everything in Google-based searches and -- like the hoard of social approval buttons before it -- will eventually show up on sites all over the Web as well.

If that blasted +1 button had a "Dislike" widget, I'd be clicking that thing like there was no tomorrow.

My problem with Google's +1 program is really two-fold: First, my virtual life is already overflowing with a surplus of social services. I get recommendations from friends and colleagues on Facebook. I get links all day on Twitter. My inbox oozes with references and referrals. The last thing I need is one more place to find endorsements and share suggestions.