Google to Shut Down Buzz

Google will be shutting down Google Buzz in the next couple of weeks, instead focusing their attention on Google+, which has been met with a much better reception than their previous social networking attempt.

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In a note on their official blog, Google announced that they will perform a “fall sweep,” which will include the closure of Google Buzz, Code Search, Jaiku, and Google Labs.

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Buzz was initiated in February 2010, and rolled out into existing Gmail accounts. It was quickly hit with criticism for its lack of privacy settings. Users’ followers were chosen based on the people that the user emailed the most frequently, and those people could in-turn see the user’s other frequently emailed contacts. Critics said that this could aid stalkers, jeopardize journalist sources, or hint at affairs. For Hollywood, Google Buzz could have threatened lawyers and agents’ livelihood and confidential communications.

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“Changing the world takes focus on the future, and honesty about the past. We learned a lot from products like Buzz, and are putting that learning to work every day in our vision for products like Google+,” wrote Bradley Horowitz, Vice President of Product in a statement.

Jaiku, a program that allows people to send updates to their friends, will cease to exist on January 15, 2012.