Unverified Buzz
In case you haven’t heard, Google recently launched a new social media service called Buzz:
Buzz lets you share updates, photos, links, and pretty much anything else you’d like with your Gmail contacts; it’s an easy way to follow your friends, too.
If Orkut was Google’s version of MySpace, Buzz is Google’s version of Facebook.
Personally, I’ve been getting sick of Facebook’s shifty-ness -- seems like the site’s sporting a new homepage and/or privacy settings more often than Ryan Seacrest touches up his highlights -- so I’m hoping Buzz gets some momentum.
It’s certainly getting its share of attention. Just two days after the launch, Google implemented some “immediate improvements” based on user feedback (mostly around privacy control features).
One thing I haven’t seen addressed is Google’s approach for verified accounts.
When I visit my Google profile page, I’m greeted with a message advising me that the page “is eligible to be featured in Google search results”. This links to a help page on how to make your profile easier to find, including this tip “to help you make your Google profile more useful”:
Verify your name, and get a “Verified” badge on your profile.
If you were me, this is the message you'd get.
Given I have a sink full of dishes waiting to be washed and laundry to do, my natural reaction is to immediately set about getting my name verified. (Seriously, you get a “Verified” badge! How could I resist?)
After clicking through a mere five pages, I arrive at the place where the magic happens. Intuitively (that’s sarcasm, by the way) nestled among the Knol (Remember Knol? Google-flavored wikis?) ”Preferences” resides my “Name Verification” page, where I am presented with two options to complete the verification process (the badge is so close!):
- Credit Card
- Social Security Number
Nope. Not a Rick Roll.
Really?!
Short of perhaps a picture of me naked and sitting on the toilet, I can’t think of anything I’d feel less inclined to post online than either of those items.
I begin to wonder if perhaps I’ve landed on an archived April Fool’s Day page. After all, it seems far more plausible that the links would lead me to a Rick Astley video, than that Google would actually be requesting that information.
I decide to explore further. (Who says those dishes aren’t going to wash themselves?!)
Turns out it’s true -
The only way to get that Name Verification badge is to fork over details for either your credit card or social security number.
Of course Google assures us that your card is not charged, the information is used for verification purposes only (via a third party), blah blah blah. Comfy? Well, before you pull your wallet out, read through the FAQs -- only certain credit cards will work and Name Verification is only available in the U.S.
Indeed, you don’t have to get your name verified. So unless you have a compelling reason to prove you are who you claim to be, this is far from the end of the world. (Even if you do have a compelling reason, I’m confident you’ll be able to work through this.)
Currently, the feature does not seem to be widely used. Google describes it as “experimental”, explaining they “now downplay the feature in the user-interface”. For those wondering about page rank, the FAQ states:
At the moment, the feature exists solely as one means for you to communicate to your readers that you are who you say you are. At this present time, it does not have a significant effect on ranking.
Does this graph remind you of anything?
Still, I have to believe that this is something Google will need to address sooner or later.
Users are encouraged to update their profiles when getting started with Buzz. Potentially, many are likely seeing the message about having their profile featured in search results. If so, Google may find their efforts to downplay the verification option to be less-than-successful.
Call me cynical, but given the alarmist reaction to Google potentially exposing who’s on your “most e-mailed” list, the current verification options are unlikely to sit well with the average user.
Would you be willing to share your credit card or social security number to get verified?
Does it even matter? Will Buzz lead to an increased need (real or perceived) for Name Verification or will verification remain a “downplayed”, experimental feature?
Since I have dishes to do (so much for them doing themselves -- hmmph), please talk amongst yourselves (i.e., leave a comment)!
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That’s pretty amazing. It would actually be nice to verify my name – as various people keep popping up – with my name no less – in Google and Backtype alerts.
Given that Google probably already has that data – I don’t even know if it matters anymore. Besides, me, naked, on the toilet – not so pretty!
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Good morning, Happy Fool’s Day!
A man went to the Police Station wishing to speak with the burglar who had broken into his house the night before.
“You’ll get your chance in court,” said the sergeant.
“No, no no!” said the man. “I want to know how he got into the house without waking my wife. I’ve been trying to do that for years!”
Happy April Fool’s Day!