YouTube Switching Users To Optional Google+ Profiles

[engine]

I'm not at all surprised by this move.

YouTube Switching Users To Optional Google+ Profiles [youtube-global.blogspot.co.uk]

Starting today we’re giving you the ability to change how you appear on YouTube, with the option to use your Google+ profile on your YouTube channel. One Google-wide identity was something that proved popular with new YouTube users when we began offering it in March, so we are now extending it to existing users.

[albo]

Yep. I questioned the value of letting YouTube users "blur" their faces in broadcast graphics while encouraging (requiring?) the use of "real names" for a Google account to use YouTube. Excuse me if I'm wrong, but: what? Anonymity?

[johnmoose]

Thats why I am skipping this G+ thinghy...thanks, but no thanks.

[graeme_p]

Thank you Google, I was so worried that you did not have enough information on me and I was wondering how to give you more.

Most people value convenience more than privacy, have not idea how much data accumulates on them, and are permanently logged into Facebook, Google, and whatever else they use, and use FB logins for everything. Their reaction to this will be "how convenient"

[ken_b]

...option...

Optional? Hmmmm, I wonder how long before the "optional" part becomes mandatory?

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

Lots like Youtube how it is. Lots won't like the change. Lots of G+ users are about to be subjected to the nasty comments often found on youtube videos. Lots of other reasons this may be a very bad idea... too much?

As the dragons say on Dragons Den, I'm out. I'm sure Google will add an obscene amount of income to their obscene earnings over our content but that's been voluntary, not forced like this.

[g1smd]

Having never installed Google+ on my mobile, it sits in my "Updates" list trying to trick me into "updating" (actually "installing for the first time") something that I don't want. There's no way to remove it from the "updates" list, other than "updating" (installing) it.

This is no better than the forced IE-install tactics that Microsoft (eventually) got whacked for.

My next phone won't be android if this blantant abuse of the user continues.

[frontpage]

Google and privacy? Surely you jest.

The CEO has publicly stated that Google is anti-anonymity.

Google's CEO Eric Schmidt -- "Privacy is incredibly important," Schmidt stated. "Privacy is not the same thing as anonymity. It's very important that Google and everyone else respects people's privacy. People have a right to privacy; it's natural; it's normal. It's the right way to do things. But if you are trying to commit a terrible, evil crime, it's not obvious that you should be able to do so with complete anonymity. There are no systems in our society which allow you to do that. Judges insist on unmasking who the perpetrator was. So absolute anonymity could lead to some very difficult decisions for our governments and our society as a whole."

"The only way to manage this is true transparency and no anonymity. ... We need a [verified] name service for people. Governments will demand it."

Source: [networkworld.com...]

What happens if you try and trick Google+?

Google+ VP Bradley Horowitz - “So we’re currently making a number of improvements to this process – specifically regarding how we notify these users that they’re not in compliance with Google+ policies and how we communication he remedies available to them.”

[g1smd]

Google really is turning into Big Brother, and what makes things worse is that they are unelected and unaccountable.

[brotherhood of LAN]

Seems to be in vogue though, new hotmail accounts now seem to be labelled as a generic "microsoft account". It's all getting tied into the mothership.

[graeme_p]

Of course its in the vogue: its profitable to aggregate information they already have, and it makes it easier to cross sell services if you already have a login.

[diberry]

I just got the "option" to change my channel name to my real name. I rejected it and chose as my reason that it's for a business (one of my websites). I'm still able to comment - some of the people who refused to make the change in July lost the ability to comment, which is absolutely sickening.

I just value my privacy AND my brand - I want to make my websites famous, not myself. But what about people who have stalkers? What about people who got picked on growing up and can't face putting themselves out there in that way?

This is just so very, very wrong.

[aristotle]

Having never installed Google+ on my mobile, it sits in my "Updates" list trying to trick me into "updating" (actually "installing for the first time") something that I don't want. There's no way to remove it from the "updates" list, other than "updating" (installing) it.

When they ask you to agree to their terms of service, click "I decline" instead. That ought to put an end to the problem.