I took some time this week to sit in on Google’s live unveiling of their new social media platform.  It is called Google Buzz and, as always, everyone has an opinion.

My immediate reaction was to assume the impending death of a few competitors.  (Twitter, beware)  One of my biggest (and only) problems with social media is the insane amount of stratification.  I like what Twitter and Facebook and Delicious and Digg and LinkedIn all of these have to offer, but in order to interact with all of these sites I have to visit umpteen URLs.  I have to login using umpteen accounts.  Sure, a few of these talk to eachother through APIs, but why can’t I just have one or two broswer windows that let me play with all these sites?  There have been a few sad attempts but nothing sticky.

My theory is that this reality acts as a barrier to entry for a huge segment of individuals.  I grew up on the Internet and I’m paid to understand all of this social media stuff and even I find it exhausting.  Social media is a wide, wondrous world, but how many people do you know that can’t be bothered to trek past Facebook?

Google Buzz convinced me to start using my Gmail account more, sign up for iGoogle and make a page, make a Google Profile… I’m assimilating.  You win guys.  I have always been a fan of integration between your products.  Your entry into the social media space is exciting.  I’m hoping that in a couple of years I can finally visit one site and accomplish all the interaction I desire.  I’ve got my money on Google, and its usually a safe bet.

Tags: Buzz, Delicious, Digg, Facebook, Gmail, Google, LinkedIn, Social Media, Twitter