11 October 2011 | Author: L Boyd Media Intern
According to new figures released by data analytics company Chitika, social networking newcomer Google+ has lost 60 per cent of active users since it launched to the general public in late September.
After an impressive 1,200 per cent increase in traffic over the first few days following its public launch, numbers have since slumped.
"The data shows that, on the day of its public debut, Google+ traffic skyrocketed to peak levels. But, soon after, traffic fell by over 60 per cent as it returned to its normal, underwhelming state. It would appear that although high levels of publicity were able to draw new traffic to Google+, few of them saw reason to stay," Gabe Donnini from Chitika said.
However, looking at the numbers from a different perspective paints a different picture. While Chitika reports a 60 per cent decline in traffic, Forbes contributor Time Worstall took a second look at the numbers, calculating this decline from the initial 1,200 per cent surge, which ultimately, still translates to a 480 per cent increase in traffic.
Despite being one of the fastest-growing social networks of all time - with a reported 25 million unique visitors in its first month - industry insiders speculate that most users simply want to see what all the fuss is about.
It's not all bad though - at last unofficial count there were around 43 million users on Google+ and its sleek, inventive design and privacy policy continues to garner praise from critics.
The site also continues to pull out all the stops, with new features released practically every other day, and the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu 'hanging out' together on the new site last Friday.
However, recent reports that Mountain View's own management team are shunning the site are bound to have potential users questioning why they should make the effort to join Google+.
Active Google+ users drops by 60pc
According to new figures released by data analytics company Chitika, social networking newcomer Google+ has lost 60 per cent of active users since it launched to the general public in late September. After an impressive 1,200 per cent increase in traffic over the first few days following its public launch, numbers have since slumped.
"The data shows that, on the day of its public debut, Google+ traffic skyrocketed to peak levels. But, soon after, traffic fell by over 60 per cent as it returned to its normal, underwhelming state. It would appear that although high levels of publicity were able to draw new traffic to Google+, few of them saw reason to stay," Gabe Donnini from Chitika said.
However, looking at the numbers from a different perspective paints a different picture. While Chitika reports a 60 per cent decline in traffic, Forbes contributor Time Worstall took a second look at the numbers, calculating this decline from the initial 1,200 per cent surge, which ultimately, still translates to a 480 per cent increase in traffic.
Despite being one of the fastest-growing social networks of all time - with a reported 25 million unique visitors in its first month - industry insiders speculate that most users simply want to see what all the fuss is about.
It's not all bad though - at last unofficial count there were around 43 million users on Google+ and its sleek, inventive design and privacy policy continues to garner praise from critics.
The site also continues to pull out all the stops, with new features released practically every other day, and the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu 'hanging out' together on the new site last Friday.
However, recent reports that Mountain View's own management team are shunning the site are bound to have potential users questioning why they should make the effort to join Google+.
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