Ubuntu Tips n Tricks

TechSource's Ultimate Guide to Using Google+ (Part 3)

Posted: 10 Aug 2011 04:47 AM PDT

This is the third part of our ultimate guide to using Google Plus. In case you missed the last two posts, you can go HERE for the first part and HERE for the second part. This time, we'll be covering the recent deletion spree that our beloved Google has been on and how to deal with it. Plus, (pardon the pun) we'll be covering some other important stuff we missed in the last 2 posts.

More on Google Plus Hangouts:

In the previous part, we've already explained what Hangouts is. It's a nifty little feature in G+ that allows you to video chat with up to 10 people at once. The feature, since its launch, has become one of the most useful social tools Google has ever come up with. Many people are using Hangouts in their own creative ways. For example, songwriter Daria Musk started performing her songs with folks on G+. She even made a music video called Google+ song which is actually quite good.

In other parts of the G+ world, talented writers, cooks and comedians are sharing their skills with the rest of the world using Hangouts. The most interesting thing however, is something that's called the 'longest hangout on G+'. This is a public hangout that has been going on for about 20 days wherein many industry experts like actors, comedians, YouTube personalities are sharing their expertise with the rest of the world. The hangout aims to be the longest in history and is available for everyone to see live. If you're an expert in something, you can join the hangout using the contact page given on this site.

Hangouts in its future version will be getting more awesome. If the grapevine is to be believed, Google will be adding more functionality like games, Yes/No apps and other nifty additions to the already amazing service.

Google+ Deletiongate:

If you're abreast with the latest tech news, you might be aware that Google is mercilessly killing off G+ accounts with fake and pseudonymous names. We can't complain about it much because the product is still in beta. However, the actions by Google have sparked quite a debate in the social community. Apparently Google has a strict set of policies for people using their social network. So, posting anything NSFW will get your account suspended. Well, that's not the big issue; actually, Google is committed to the fact that it gets real people to use their network. So, using a pseudonym or just your initials will get your account being suspended. The sudden massive deletion generated a lot of backlash with Google releasing a statement that it is working on it.

What to do if your account gets deleted:

Google doesn't warn users before deleting their accounts. If you find your account being deleted, don't worry, even famous people like Arianna Huffington and William Shatner weren't able to escape the deletiongate. Hopefully, you won't lose access to other services but some people reported that they've been locked out of Gmail, Docs and other Google services tied to their account. Once your G+ account gets deleted you'll see a short notice below your name stating the reasons for deletion. All your posts, photos, and other social features will be inaccessible. You'll see a notice that says something like this:

" Your profile is suspended. After reviewing your profile, we determined that the name you provided violates our Community Standards. If you believe this profile has been suspended in error, please provide us with additional information via this form, and we will review your profile again. "

In the notice where it says 'via this form', there will be a clickable link which will take you to a Gdocs form. The form will look something like this and to get back your account, you'll have to provide a copy of your Photo ID. The ID will only be used to verify your name and Google won't store that data. So basically, you're going to have to appeal to Google to give back your account.

What to do to avoid getting deleted:

Google is very strict when it comes to how you use your name. So as far as possible, don't use your nickname in lieu of your real name. Google provides a special field for nicknames. Also, suffixing epithets like 'the God' or 'the Jedi Master' to your real name is a recipe for disaster. In short, just use your real name and nothing else. Also, abstain from posting anything that contains:

1. Nudity or sexually explicit material

2. Hate Speech

3. Breach of copyright

4. Someone else's confidential information.

5. Impersonation of someone's identity. (E.g.: Fake celeb accounts)

What's coming next?

Google Plus is still in private beta, so don't expect it to be as perfect/imperfect as Facebook. The social network is continually improving thanks to feedback from millions of users worldwide. If you come across a bug, don't hesitate to click on the 'Send Feedback' button on the bottom right corner of your screen. Also, if you want to stay updated with the latest features in Google +, do keep visiting this page.