Spam Hits Google Buzz Already 135
ChiefMonkeyGrinder writes "Despite only being launched this week, spammers are already targeting Google Buzz, the search engine's social network." If my buzz box is any indicator, the spammers are pretty much the only people actually using Buzz, and until Facebook can integrate, I wonder if that will change. The Times also has a followup on Google's Apologies following various privacy bumbles throughout the launch of Buzz.
Google Buzz's Skyrocketing Usage (Score:5, Informative)
"If my buzz box is any indicator, the spammers are pretty much the only people actually using Buzz, and until Facebook can integrate, i wonder if that will change. "
Wow, way to make to make yourself look silly submitter:
http://mashable.com/2010/02/14/google-buzz-column/ [mashable.com]
"Google Buzz's Skyrocketing Usage
While it's still very early into Buzz's life cycle, initial indications show that Google has a hit on its hands. Linking Buzz to Gmail's millions of users has clearly brought people into the company's new social domain.
Google has only released two numbers so far: there have been over 9 million posts and comments in about 56 hours, amounting to around 160,000 posts and comments per hour. That's even more impressive if you consider the fact that most users didn't get Buzz until Wednesday the 10th.
The other number: over 200 mobile check-ins per minute, nearly 300,000 mobile check-ins per day.
Those numbers are simply stellar."
Every major blogger is using Buzz now and some of them are saying they already have a larger Buzz following in just a few days than they had with other social media sites that they spent years building up.
Re:Google Buzz's Skyrocketing Usage (Score:3, Informative)
Google Buzz's Skyrocketing Usage
When the usage passed from 0 to 1, one might argue it got infinitely more popular!
Re:Facebook Will Not Acknowledge the New Guy (Score:3, Informative)
I know what you are hinting at with your answer (AKA "Don't use Facebook") but, the reality of the matter is that Facebook is used all the time with various groups, friends, etc that people are part of. Yeah, there is a high amount of noise, but it is *the* place for people to plan events, talk about life events, etc. While I wouldn't "die" without Facebook, my social life would most definitely suffer (and, yes, I mean a social life outside of Facebook - Facebook is a tool to help plan that). So, leaving Facebook is not necessarily an option.
To answer the GP post, I too would like to see Buzz integrate with Facebook - even if it is to see status and provide status updates.
Re:I knew there was a reason not to use Gmail (Score:5, Informative)
But could not find any way to completely opt-out of Buzz. There didn't seem to be a way, other than to cease using Gmail entirely. I consider that vile.
Go into full gmail, and scroll all the way to the bottom. Right above the line that has all the legal stuff is another line with things like "Gmail view" "turn off/on chat" "Turn off/on Buzz". Click on turn off buzz. It will then be removed from the list of links on the top left-hand side with Inbox, Drafts, and all that.
Re:I knew there was a reason not to use Gmail (Score:2, Informative)
Yes, but you still have your followers if you turn off the Buzz tab.
Re:Indicator (Score:5, Informative)
No spam here... Compared to Facebook and those incessant applications everyone keeps using. I have quite literally turned off everything but allowing friends to post on my wall and I still get invites to make someone's farm bigger or stupid greeting card invites. I see no option to deny all applications forever, only individual ones as they are sent to me.
Re:I knew there was a reason not to use Gmail (Score:4, Informative)
When you click on "Turn off Buzz" it just removes the Buzz link from your gmail UI. That's it; it doesn't disable Buzz!
More details here [google.com].
Re:I knew there was a reason not to use Gmail (Score:4, Informative)
Click on turn off buzz. It will then be removed from the list of links on the top left-hand side with Inbox, Drafts, and all that.
Unfortunately, it seems that removing the link from the sidebar is in fact all it'll do. Here [cnet.com]'s how to really disable buzz for good, courtesy of CNet.
Re:I knew there was a reason not to use Gmail (Score:1, Informative)
I consider this utterly, well, evil. Deceitful. Sketchy. This stuff needs to be totally opt-in.
It is totally opt-in. The first time you log onto gmail after they introduced buzz, they bring you to a buzz screen. You choose to enable it or not.