Google Buzz disappear $8.5 million and Investigation is Running!

September 5, 2010 - Last Modified: September 6, 2010 by Hesham Zebida

Do you remember when Google Buzz suddenly popped into our Gmail emails? do you remember how much people hated when Google took advantage of users and didn’t even ask them if they want it to be part of their email account or not!

I remember, that I used Google Buzz for a few days, then I started to feel so annoyed that I left it behind, and I removed the buzz share button from my blog. I didn’t really like it because it was a real big buzz, Google planned to create a new way for it’s users to communicate with each other, a few days latter they -at Google- realized that they have done a big mistake, they didn’t launch their social networking project in a good way! Google failed on creating a social service, but they succeed in making me hate this sharing experience or social experience.

No, I don’t need Social Updates in my email!

I remember the most annoying thing happened was the load of buzz I was getting after I followed Pete Cashmore of Mashable.com, and I hated myself right after that because there were no nested replies, and Pete has big following, they was shaking my account everyday, and I had to scroll the page to reach read what others says! and this is something I didn’t really want to do! and I took my breathes after days when Google responded to hell of feedback from it’s users about how bad Google Buzz is especially about privacy, Google Buzz team worked quickly to solve problems, and they made privacy fixes, they added the nested replies, but I was out of the game at that time, I never used Google Buzz again!

And while I spend a lot of time everyday on social media sites, I feel the need of controlling the applications I am using, it’s my very simple right! I feel more comfort a way from Google Buzz, so.. I don’t think anymore to buzz or not to buzz! I took that decision long time back, Are you still using it?

There is some exciting news about Google, so.. I wanted to share with you!

Google Buzz disappear $8.5 million?!!

Yes!

Google has agreed to pay a hefty sum to make a class action lawsuit concerning Google Buzz disappear — $8.5 million, to be exact, regarding to Mashable.com

It’s all about privacy, and the problem seems to be the auto-follow and opt-in features of Google Buzz!

Google & Antitrust Issues

Here is some other interesting new from Texas, Texas Attorney General Investigating Google & Antitrust Issues.

Most Gmail privacy policies are still too hard to understand, especially for someone like me who don’t really know that much of law in the States and even the use of legal terms I hear or I read about everywhere, and it seems that I am not the only person who is suffering from this as Google is simplifying and updating Google’s privacy policies, and I really hope that will help!

Google: We don’t need to ask!

If we tell you to buzz, you will buzz! what about that?!

About Hesham Zebida

Follow @hishaman

I create websites with WordPress, and I develop Schema Plugins to help SEOs. I am a social network lover. I am also the night creature who works hard to keep this project up. Owner and founder of the Famous Blog.

{ 57 Responses }

Julius says:

hey buddy, nice post. I never used Google Buzz because I thought there was no point of using it anyway. Did you actively use it? So why are they paying $8.5 billion? Just so the lawsuit against them will be dropped?!
Suresh Khanal says:

Rarely get buzz in my inbox, because I'm following very few people and a few are following me. What I did not like in buzz is feed streamed into buzz from twiter and like. They just cluttered Buzz.
Cindy says:

great article, Hesham :)... looks like a huge flaw from google buzz. I use it sometimes but the atmosphere there is too quiet. I think I'll remember not to add anyone popular from there, my emails are already flooded as they are.
bryan says:

Lol you can say that Google Buzz has finally made a big buzz out of their Buzz. Personally I don't think that Google Buzz has made me used their service more now than before. Don't really like the way they intrude into our emails when it first started anyway. But then again, maybe Google has to learn that social media is not their real strength..
bbrian017 says:

Hesham great write up. Personally I've never been a fan of Google Buzz. I have tried it a few times but found it to be very difficult. Also to be very honest I've never had success using that website because all my connection aren't using it. This is why I've enjoy other platforms such as blog engage or twitter. I don't think I'm the only one not enjoying Google Buzz. The lack of activity on their website and lack of bloggers using the service really shows how unpopular it really is. What's your thoughts Hesham? Will this kill the growth of Google Buzz or will they get passed this and start taking some more social networking market share?
TJ McDowell says:

I never really got on board with Buzz, but email seems like the wrong place for this technology. I see emails as tasks, but I see Buzz as more of a leisurely activity.
Colleen says:

All sorts of folks in our niche jumped all over Google Buzz when first introduced. Fortunately for us, we kinda just let it pass by us. At least this time, we made a good decision, eh!
- Hesham says:
  
  I can imagine that! same in our blogging niche, so many people wrote about it, including myself as I remember :) I agree, you did a good decision!
  - Colleen says:
    
    Isn't that how it is Hesham, when there is news we focus on it, but time is the true measurement of longevity! :)
Shiva says:

This news does not really BUZZ me ...ha ha...Actually I hardly use buzz. It is another big fail from Google's side after the Wave. They should not have first of all linked it to Gmail at all, that is the first mistake that they did and then they imported all the contacts without giving users the options of opting out. A big strategic fail for Big Daddy G
- Hesham says:
  
  Linked it to Gmail! that was the big mistake!
element321 says:

I use to like Buzz, I even did several articles about buzz and how to integrate into your site. But I removed the plugins and the custom codes added. I still feed my Twitter feed to it and from time to time I get traffic from buzz. But most of the people that follow me on buzz, follow me on Twitter or FriendFeed. If buzz dies, I won't miss it...Just like I don't miss Wave.
- Hesham says:
  
  lol yeah, I don't miss Wave to! but I use Wave when someone invite me only!
Aswani says:

Probably google was trying to replicate facebook and to be very honest, it has never ever impressed. Buzz looks good but it is far behind facebook or any other social network. Anyways, this news is a big shock for me :O
- Hesham says:
  
  Hi Aswani, Google tries to replicate every single successful application and platforms out there! We need new and creative ideas!
darrius says:

this is shock new for blogger, because i'm also using google buzz for trafik, no wonder my integration tweetme and buzz it's doesnt work but, in my gmail account, my google buzz is off because of spammer
- Hesham says:
  
  I didn't check even the Buzzes in my Gmail since months back!
Hesham says:

Yeah! me to :)
Dennis Edell says:

Buzz what? Never had it, never will. Same goes for Gmail. I use Google for search.
- Hesham says:
  
  lol good one Dennis ! I was doing the same till I had to use Gmail just because one lonely feature it has and I need it!!
  - Dennis Edell says:
    
    Which is.....
Tran Tinh says:

That is shocking news to all Buzz fans but exactly the privacy is something that Google has not improved when launching Buzz. I do not think it is an end for Buzz now. Wait and see :-)
- Hesham says:
  
  I don't think it's the end to! it's just a warning for everyone who is starting a new social networking project!
  - Tinh says:
    
    You are right! Google has failed with Wave and I do not think they will quite Buzz, the only tool that can compete with Twitter LOL
Andreas says:

Google's 8 million disappeared in my pocket, but don't tell anyone ;)
- Hesham says:
  
  What about the rest of us? ;)
ZK says:

There only few projects were placed on right place. Otherwise maximum of their products are flop against their rivals ... Orkut against facebook Blogger against wordpress ... Buzz against twitter Picassa against flickr ...
- Hesham says:
  
  That's true ZK, and one interesting thing to me is that most of the successful site/services/projects was originally created by young people who never thought to create monsters, and it went popular mostly by accident!
Mars Dorian says:

Well, that one came and went. I thought it was unnecessary right from the beginning, because there was no point towards it. But I give credit to Google - they try out things. If they work, they improve 'em, if not, they drop 'em. Trial and error all the way. Mars
- Hesham says:
  
  I agree that Google is amazing, and they want to be #1 on everything, and probably this is what they are doing wrong just by thinking about it!
Pumama says:

I hate Google Buzz and never use it .Thank you for Good News.
- Hesham says:
  
  You are welcome Pumama :)
Jimi Jones says:

Buzz quickly played out with me, too many issues. Initially I thought it would be much more than it turn out to be. Bottom line, there are better ways to distribute content and Buzz just never really caught on in a wide-spread manner.
- Hesham says:
  
  Thank you for giving your opinion Jimi, same happened with me!
Ileane says:

Well Hesham, thanks for sharing this news. I know you said you took the Buzz sharing widget down but I still use Buzz (not as much as I used to though) so I'm sharing this one over there. I'm curious to see what kind of feedback I get. I'll keep you posted. Thanks Hesham!
- Hesham says:
  
  I know that you are the most one who use Google Buzz , that would be great to share it :)
Blazing Minds says:

I use Google Buzz, but not that often, I personally think there are better sites for sharing content and status updates, you know the ones I mean ;) Besides, I don't really use Gmail that often either..
- Hesham says:
  
  Of course, there is better ways to share our content ;)
Anterpreet says:

Never used Buzz, created an account and automated it to post my blog articles but never checked it.
- Hesham says:
  
  I really don't like to auto share my blog posts, because this is not the right way to use a social network where you should meet and talk with people!
Will says:

Nice vid Hesham ! Cheers Will P.S. Thinking about buzzing off now ;----) )
- Hesham says:
  
  That video is kind of old, but I love it :)
  - Will says:
    
    I'm kind of old too ;)
    - Hesham says:
      
      Oh! no way :) Age is age of heart, and you have a young heart Will, pretty nice!
The Bad Blogger says:

Well... I never use it, because it wasn't promoted heavily by blogger and any other website, although I knew there are tons of people using it. When something is not heavily promoted by user that means is not good enough to use it.
- Hesham says:
  
  I think bloggers started to hate it after a few days of using it!
Ryan Biddulph says:

Thanks for the update Hesham. Buzz never grew on me. I'm too linked in to other networks to devote any significant time to it. Ryan Biddulph
- Hesham says:
  
  Twitter is much more comfort platform in my opinion!
Devesh says:

I've used google buzz for sometime and i really don't like it. Anyways, Thanks for sharing the news. Btw. The new design is looking awesome man. You Rock. Just wondering how you added the image of contributors in sidebar ("Great Pens").
- Hesham says:
  
  Hi Devesh, I got your tweet earlier, I am using a query to get the values to be able to display contributers info, but I am not sure yet whether this code is good or not, I must check the server (Throttling) , it seems too many calls to database, it's eating my server resources! So, give me a few days to decide!
Abhishek-seekersfind.com says:

Hi this is true even I find the same when I work on it.I don't get any traffic from it still looking to get tricks to generate from it Thanks For Sharing -Abhishek
- Hesham says:
  
  Maybe if you get traffic you will change your mind ;) P.S. I came across your post today, heading over there after replying to some comments here!
Peter J says:

Hate Google buzz. I had my gmail linked with hotmail and every time i would so something i would get an email from Google buzz. I don't want it ! Seriously problematic software.
- Hesham says:
  
  I didn't meet someone who like Google Buzz for real! thanks Peter for stepping by, and sorry for the late reply, too much stuff going here recently!

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