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Okay, I already did a video about this from the point of view of a Google+ user, but here
are my thoughts from the point of view of a YouTube user and YouTube creator.
And I promise, this is the last video I'm going to do about this subject, because there
are really more interesting things we should be covering.
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Hi there, I'm Roberto. Hope you guys are doing well.
It's been almost two weeks since Google introduced a new Google+ based comment system on YouTube,
and people haven't stopped going crazy about this issue.
First let me speak to everybody, whether you are a YouTube creator or just a viewer.
I have some bad news and good news for you. Everybody who has a Google account has a Google+
profile whether they use it or not. It doesn't matter if you signed up for GMail,
for YouTube or for whatever; you have a Google+ profile.
When did this happen? Well, remember back in early 2012 when Google
changed its privacy policies and consolidated all of them into one?
Remember all that outrage? AH! THEY'RE INVADING MY PRIVACY!!
Well sometimes it seems I was the only one with enough vision to realize this wasn't
a privacy issue at all. It was going to be about us not being able
to opt out of Google services in the future. You want some Google? You're going to get
all of Google! That's the bad news.
The good news when it comes to this Google+ integration is:
You don't have to actually use Google+ if you don't want to.
Seriously, you just link your YouTube to your Google+ profile, keep commenting on YouTube
and make sure that check box to share on Google+ is unchecked.
And yes, you can argue that check box should remain unchecked or at least should remember your
setting and I agree but, it's not like we don't have a workaround in the meantime.
So just keep that dang checkbox unchecked, comment on YouTube and leave your actual Google+
profile collecting dust if that's what you really want. Problem solved.
Now I have to say this. I'm really ashamed of YouTube creators.
Yes, all of us because those who have spent time whining and complaining about this Google+
issue have dragged all of us down in the mud with them.
Here's the thing, YouTube creators, you cannot tell me you did not see this change coming.
Yes, I agree Google failed miserably when it comes to communicating when the actual
change was going to take place but seriously, I did not have any insider information from
Google and I could see this change coming back when they first started asking us to
link our YouTube to Google+. I Googleplussified my YouTube account in August
of last year, before I even started making videos.
And I didn't use Google+ until five months later when I actually wanted to.
So it's not like I was forced to use Google+ when I linked the accounts.
But I was prepared and when the new comment system went into effect on November 6th, I
did not have any traumatic experience leaving comments on YouTube.
Maybe next time we should spend more time preparing for the changes and less time trying
to fight them. But the biggest reason I'm ashamed of YouTube
creators is, I have seen so much time and so much energy wasted complaining about how
Google is trying to force us into using Google+. Where has all this anger, all this passion
been when it comes to complaining about issues that actually matter?
Like, I don't know, how come we keep gaining subscribers yet our videos keep getting fewer
and fewer views? YouTube has been a gigantic failure when it
comes to delivering our videos to our subscribers. How come we are not flooding YouTube with
complaints about that? All of us want our videos to be seen; that's
why we make them. And for those of you guys who make money off
of your YouTube channel, this actually impacts you financially.
Where is the avalanche of videos complaining about that?
No, it's much easier to complain about a social network we are not actually forced to use.
So seriously all this silliness needs to stop. We need to focus again on creating great content
and bringing back enjoyment to our YouTube communities.
And those are my views about this whole YouTube/Google+ situation from the point of view of a YouTube
user and a YouTube creator. My comment section remains open, as it always
has been, so if you're still having issues with this Google+ YouTube integration we can
discuss them in the comments and maybe help each other out.
Thank you for watching. If you liked this video feel free to share
it around. You can also subscribe to my channel.
It is free, and you'll be notified when I release a new video.
Thanks again and I'll see you guys soon.