Google is shutting down experimental social network Shoelace

[Shawn Knight]

Recap: Google has notoriously struggled in the social networking sector. Its most famous example, the aforementioned Google+, launched in 2011. After getting off to a promising start, however, the social network ultimately failed to compete with rival Facebook and other budding platforms like Instagram.

Google has announced that it is shutting down experimental social networking app Shoelace.

Developed by Google’s experimental workshop, Area 120, the app launched in mid-2019 shortly after the consumer arm of Google+ was sunset. As The Verge recounts, the hyperlocal social networking app was designed to help users organize local activities and events. It rolled out on an invite-only basis in New York City where it remained for the duration of its short run.

In a recently updated FAQ, Google said that given the current health crisis, they don’t believe now is the right time to invest further in the project. As such, it will be shut down on May 12 at which time all user accounts will be deleted and the app’s backend will be removed from Google’s servers permanently.

Interested parties can download an exported version of their user data here.

Google said it has no plans to reboot Shoelace in the future. That’s not uncommon considering many of Area 120’s projects are short-lived, only run in order to test ideas and hopefully to learn something new.

Masthead credit: carroti

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https://www.techspot.com/news/85031-google-shutting-down-experimental-social-network-shoelace.html

 

[psycros]

If Google really wants to break into social networking, they need to offer something the others don't. I'd suggest creating a very intuitive experience with a sane, info-rich GUI that's built expressly for each platform. They would also offer both a free and paid tier. The free version would only collect fully anonymized data and absolutely nothing personal such as the contents of messages. The paid version would offer total privacy. BOTH versions would give users total control over what they share and these choices would be obvious. They would also be permanent unless a user expressly made changes.

 

[BadThad]

Personally, I'm kind of glad google can't make any headway into social networking. They have too much power and control already. The amount and detail of personal data they have on nearly every human is scary.

 

[p51d007]

Ever get the feeling, no matter if it really is or isn't, that any business venture this year,
if it fails, will be blamed on the Chinese virus outbreak?

 

[Danny101]

The fight over business interruption coverage will be a litigation nightmare and will turn the Industry inside out.

 

[veLa]

I'd never heard of it. Can't they just be happy with YouTube?