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Google Unveils Its Version of Facebook's Like Button

+1 feature is rolling out on search results

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 30, 2011 6:49 PM CDT

(Newser) – Look out "Like" button, here comes Google's "+1." The company unveiled a new gizmo today—the "plus one" button—that mimics the general idea of Facebook's popular feature. The idea is that you'll be able to click on the button to designate things you like, and people in your Google "social circle" (think Gmail and "My Contacts" lists) can see it. For now, it's being rolled out in experimental form only on search results, allowing people to "+1" any results or ads they like. Not everyone can see the button at the moment, but if you'd like to join the experiment, go here.

In a few months, the button should be showing up on web sites, reports Danny Sullivan at Search Engine Land. (He also has an in-depth walk-through of the new feature.) "It’s pretty clear that Google wants to become a whole lot more social and in order to get there, they’re going to take a page directly out of Facebook’s playbook," writes Nick O'Neill at All Facebook.The company announcement is here.

A screenshot of Google's new feature.
A screenshot of Google's new feature.   (Shutterstock)
Think something's cool?  1
Think something's cool? 1   (YouTube screenshot)
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Here's Google's video on the 1 button.   (YouTube)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
tangeri
Mar 31, 2011 8:17 AM CDT
I like it. I don't like the Facebook 'like' button everywhere, it's too heavy handed. It wants me to sign in and allow sites access to me FB account. Not only do I not want to give them access, I just don't want to report everything to FB. The Google one seems like a good idea though, and it'll most likely improve the results they give.
njgreen
Mar 31, 2011 7:18 AM CDT
I don't like it.
Jojo
Mar 30, 2011 8:57 PM CDT
My biggest pet peeve - WHY does everyone need to share with the world that they "like" something? I don't need to know someone I went to Elementary school with likes Lady Gaga - this trend is just absurd and needs to stop. I am tired of seeing "Like us on Facebook!" Is it really your life goal to have a bunch of random people "like" something you say or do? What does it change? If you get a million people to like whatever, is that enough? WHEN WILL YOU SHUT UP ABOUT IT?
 

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