Google+ a failure?

I’m sure all of you have heard of Google+ and some of you may use it. Latest research from the firm comScore shows that Google+ is a failure as many predicted. Google+ has many other social media sites to compete with such as MySpace, Twitter, and facebook. Research from Google shows that there has been a significant increase in Google+ users, but the amount of time users are spending on Google+ is rapidly declining. The average time a Google+ user is signed in is 3 minutes, in comparison to the average facebook user whom is signed in for 405 minutes. People are basically creating Google+ accounts and not using them. Google+ has many of the same options as other social media sites. Google+ has “circles” in which friends, family, and others can share information within the circle. Google+ offers instant upload, instant messenger, games, and a search option. Although Google+ offers a unique interface, many social media users are still using facebook as a main source. Another big mistake Google made was at the launch of Google+. Google introduced Google+ with the intention to have special pages for businesses but did not create them in time for the launch. Businesses were asked to wait to create an account and I think this was a turn off to many businesses. Google should have introduced the businesses pages at the official launch rather than waiting. Regardless, I think other sites such as facebook will dominate the social media environment.

Social media in Healthcare industry

Healthcare is one of the few industries that has not adapted to the social media environment. Experts say the healthcare industry is almost 10 years behind current social media. Although many healthcare professionals are for social media, the risk of accountability exists. If healthcare professionals begin to exchange information online they take on the risk of exchanging false information which they would be liable for. One could misinterpret the information and turn it around on the healthcare professional. The use of social media in medical field is significantly hindered by HIPPA, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Healthcare professionals could be running the risk of discussing confidential patient information and in doing so violating HIPPA. Although from a business stand point social media in the healthcare field may sound good, in reality it is completely ridiculous. Why would one want to discuss medical information about them self to the public? The article I found relating to this topic was all for social media in the medical field. I for one am totally against the idea. Not to be vulgar but just imagine it from a females standpoint. Would you want to have your gynecologist sharing information with you on Facebook? Just the thought of it is ludicrous.  Advertising always promotes greater amounts of business but in the case it’s unacceptable. I don’t think the medical field will ever be involved in social media due to patient confidentiality. I know personally that I wouldn’t want anything relating to a medical visit being posted on social media because it’s private information.

The Camry Effect

 Twitter users were bombarded with spam from Toyotas, "Camry Effect a Friend Giveaway" on the days leading up to the super bowl. Users that tweeted matters relating to the super bowl received the spam. Many users that didn't tweet about the super bowl reported Toyota spam. After several complaints the accounts were shut down. Toyotas social media manager replied to all users saying, “We apologize to anyone in the Twitter-verse who received an unwanted @reply over the past few days. We were excited to share the message of our Camry Effect campaign in a new way and it was never our intention to displease anyone. We’ve certainly learned from this experience and have suspended the accounts effective immediately to avoid any additional issues.” Toyota is taking full blame for the twitter spam. I don’t think this is such a big deal just more of a nuisance. Toyota resolved the situation by taking full blame and that’s all they can do in this situation.