Youtube’s Google+ Integration: Severing Ties, Sacrificing Lifeblood

With mandatory integration of Google’s social media platform Google+ onto Youtube users’ profiles, consumer outcry has been immense. Recent TIME magazine coverage details a couple interesting points. Firstly, the massive response to the implementation comes not only from website viewers, but from content creators as well – including the largest channel on the website, which recently shared its displeasure with the changes. Secondly, there is no sign of relenting and changing policy from Google’s part. As far as I’m concerned, this is a massive detriment to Youtube’s success. Even if the company were to reverse its policies, there’s now a disconnect between the content-creators and commenting users, and the website,which subsequently results in general negative sentiment about Youtube and its services. Google has potentially hurt Youtube’s fundamental user base – Youtube’s lifeblood. The same result happened with the Xbox One’s announced DRM policies, which resulted in potential boycotts in the face of Sony’s PS4 arriving to markets. When big-name online companies play games with privacy and internet policies, they are risking significant backlash from vital customer segments, especially when policies limit consumer options and ultimately fail to reflect their preferences. No extra Google+ or Xbox Live users are worth sacrificing consumer trust, and Google runs a great risk if they fail to reverse or alter their Youtube policies.