Google+: Do we need another social network?

Google receptionist Lee Stimmel works at the front desk in the company's office in New York. (Mark Lennihan/AP Photo)

Search engine giant Google Inc. is unveiling Google+ (Google Plus), a social network designed to compete against Facebook.

More than a year in the works, Google+ bears superficial similarities to other social networks that allow users to send messages, as well as post photos, videos and comments.

One key difference in Google's product is that it aims to make online sharing more like real life, by allowing users to selectively share their content within small groups via a feature called "Circles." So links can be shared with only certain friends or colleagues, and, if need be, party photos can be shown to a very restricted group of near-and-dear friends.

Social media analyst Lou Kerner, of Wedbush Securities, believes Google+ is entering the competition to become the world's global social network too late, when Facebook already has 700 million users.

Google+ is currently in an invitation-only, "field trial" stage, and is not yet available to the public.

Will you use Google+ when it is more widely available? Why or why not? Do you think the world needs another social network? Let us know in the comments below.


(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)