Experimenting with the Google Social Search

As PC world just reported a few minutes ago, Google has introduced a “Social Search” option in its Labs function. Of course, this social media junkie jumped at the chance to test out this brand-spankin’-new feature. I logged onto Google Labs and joined the experiment immediately. Then, I was told to set up a Google profile (they’ve been around for awhile, but no one has really had a reason to care about setting one up yet).  The process is simple enough, and looks like this:

Sigh. Yet another profile.

So far, so good. That is, it was until I actually went ahead and tried to use the search function. (Learn how to do all that here.)

Two things ran through my head. First was the biggest problem: Only about five people out of everyone I know has created a Google profile (back to what I said earlier, I suppose). I would guess that even fewer feel like maintaining yet another datasheet about ourselves somewhere out on the Internet. Gulp. So with this newest adventure, most of us will have to wait it out until Social Search is populated with more Google-profiled people. Second came the question: Aren’t people going to get sick of having to chase down the next big social thing eventually? Another potential issue with the whole Social Search function is that Facebook search results appear to be absent from the social search results, at least . Could be signs of an impending nerd war between Google and Facebook.

The verdict: If you’re hoping to make a name for yourself — or maintain the one you already have — within that vast social media landscape, Social Search could present unique challenges if the function takes off with users. Regardless, even if Social Search doesn’t take off amongst social networkers, it would still be a good way to monitor what’s being said about you. Try making a profile — but for the moment, at least, it’s lonely out here on Social Search.