Google Plus, as a social networking platform for consumers and businesses, was officially discontinued in April 2019. Therefore, it is no longer possible to "enable" or use Google Plus in its original form.
However, if you are referring to a historical method for enabling specific Google+ integrations that existed prior to its shutdown, particularly on platforms like career sites, there was a specific process.
Understanding Google+'s Discontinuation
Google+ was a social networking service owned and operated by Google. Launched in 2011, it aimed to compete with other major social networks but ultimately struggled with user adoption. Citing low usage and significant security vulnerabilities, Google announced its decision to shut down Google+ for consumers in October 2018, with the full discontinuation occurring in April 2019.
Following the consumer shutdown, Google transitioned its enterprise version into a product called Google Currents, which served as an internal communication platform for Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) users. However, Google Currents itself was also later deprecated and replaced by Spaces within Google Chat.
Historical Process for Enabling Google+ on Specific Platforms
Prior to its discontinuation, certain integrations allowed users to "enable Google+" for specific purposes, such as enhancing a job application or professional profile on external websites. This process leveraged the user's existing Google+ profile and Google Account.
Step-by-Step Guide (Based on Former Functionality):
If you were trying to enable Google+ for a specific integration, such as on a careers site, the process typically involved these steps:
- Sign In and Prepare Your Profile: You would first need to sign in to your Google Account (or create one if you didn't have one). It was crucial to ensure that your Google+ profile was up to date with relevant information that you wished to share through the integration.
- Visit the Relevant Site: Navigate to the specific external platform, such as a job board or careers site, where the Google+ integration was offered.
- Activate the Integration: After performing a job search or when viewing a particular job posting on the site, you would typically find and click a prominent red "Enable Google+" button, often located in the right sidebar of the page. Clicking this button would initiate the connection between your Google+ profile and that specific website's functionality.
Purpose of Former Integrations
This enabling process allowed users to link their Google+ profile data with external services, potentially streamlining job applications, enhancing their professional visibility, or leveraging their social graph for networking purposes on platforms that supported this integration.
Current Alternatives and Google's Social Offerings
While a standalone Google+ no longer exists, Google continues to offer various communication and collaborative tools:
- Google Chat (Spaces): For team collaboration and community features within Google Workspace, Spaces in Google Chat provide a platform for group discussions and content sharing.
- YouTube: Remains a massive platform for video content and community interaction, with robust social features like comments, likes, and channel subscriptions.
- Google Photos: Offers sharing features for personal photos and videos.
Evolution of Google's Social Landscape
The table below summarizes the key services and their status in Google's social and communication offerings:
| Service Name | Status | Key Functionality |
|---|---|---|
| Google+ | Discontinued (April 2019) | Consumer social network, profile integration |
| Google Currents | Deprecated | Enterprise social network for Workspace users |
| Google Chat (Spaces) | Active | Team communication, collaborative spaces, communities |
| YouTube | Active | Video content, community, comments |
For detailed information about the shutdown, you can refer to Google's official announcement regarding Google+'s consumer shutdown.
