The latest Google+ update now lets users specifically search through their friends' likes and +1’s to find things that they might be interested in.
How the Google+ update works is by letting web browser users access what people in their circles have liked or given a +1. The likes and +1s can then be searched through, like a standard search, but the results are niched to only show things people you know have liked. Popular posts are then highlighted onto the users Google+ main page. In return, the user’s own popular searched posts will show up on friends’ Google+ profiles. This addition will work well with the recent update that added the +1 action to show up directly over content posts. Users will see the Google+ update as a great way to exchange and interact with the interests of friends.
Sociable Friend Interest Searches
The Google+ Update Lets Users Search Their Friends’ Likes
Trend Themes
1. Specific Friend Interest Search - The ability for users to specifically search their friends' likes and +1's creates opportunities for customized advertisements and increased engagement on social media platforms.
2. Social Recommendation Networking - By providing users with personalized recommendations from their friends, social media platforms can become a valuable source for discovering new content and building relationships with like-minded individuals.
3. Interactive Social Search - This update could pave the way for more interactive search functions in social media, where users can see what their friends are interested in and engage in conversations around those topics in real time.
Industry Implications
1. Advertising - This update provides advertisers with the opportunity to reach a more targeted audience, by leveraging the likes and +1's of users' friends to inform ad targeting.
2. Social Media - Incorporating specific friend interest searches could improve user engagement and lead to more time spent on social media platforms, resulting in increased advertising revenue and user retention.
3. Search Engines - Search engines could potentially utilize this trend to improve search accuracy and cater to user preferences, by incorporating social media data into search results.