I honestly don't understand whats wrong with this. It just seems like the natural progression of the services that Google already provides. If my friend searches for a new phone, they should see my public reviews of the phones. Friends reviews should be made front and center because reviews from people we know are always more valuable. The way the page reads, it seems they will only use your reviews in ads for friends, I think that's fair, but if they use it for strangers too then I'll probably opt out.
The contrast with Facebook couldn't be more stark.<p>Google is advertising the change extensively, and they explain it in simple English.<p>Google lets you opt out.<p>And if you were already opted out, they retain that more restrictive setting without you having to do anything.<p>I personally don't want to be an unpaid shill for anybody, which is why I refuse to create G+ or Facebook accounts.<p>But I have to recognize that Google's approach is far more open and honest than Facebook's.
When we look back a few years from now to see where google went wrong, it'll begin and end with Google+. It is the worst product execution and strategy in recent times.
I opted out by deleting my Google+ profile last night. I honestly never wanted a Google+ profile and me submitting a YouTube video for a private audience (demonstrating a new feature in a web site I developed for a side client) that got broadcast to all my friends on Google+ was the last straw.
This is exactly how opt-out pages should work.<p>I understand it took some bad publicity before it happened, but I commend Google for correcting their mistake and making it easy to disable.
I don't understand this page.<p>Under the heading "Setting: Shared Endorsements in Ads" the copy reads as if this setting was an opt-out type of thing.<p>The actually text next to the checkbox reads as if this setting was an opt-in type of thing.
I don't have a Google Plus profile for my Google account so I can't get to the checkbox to opt out without first creating a creating a Google Plus profile. Talk about a catch 22. Though maybe they're only planning to use Google+ content for ads?
"When you disable this setting, your friends will be less likely to benefit from your recommendations." - I'm surprised that even my computer could render these bytes with a straight face.
It's interesting that folks in the tech community had the same reaction that I did... TURN IT OFF. Seems that this would be one of those "Don't be Evil" moments for Google. It seems reasonable that people wouldn't want their rating or review used out of context on an ad. This is exactly what's wrong with Facebook "Like" buttons. Why repeat the same mistake?
Speaking of all this tripe, does anyone know how to export your YouTube favourites without creating a G+ account?<p>A couple of days ago, it starting requiring me to sign up to add a video to my list of favourites, and the API throws an error - probably for the same reason.
I'm in the minority in that I love Google+.
It's everything good about social networking without any of those pesky people everyone seems to like so much.
Didn't go through the link.<p>This was turned off by default for me when I edited my Google Profile (not a paid user).<p>Shared Endorsements Off edit
Unfortunately this page will probably not even hit the most gullible folks who signed in their gmail and are using Google+ unknowingly. Hope there is a broader communication from Google to allow people to disable this. Can't imagine this was made an automatic opt in.