Google… Buzz Saw or Buzz Kill?

Tuesday Google made its latest foray into the social media space with the grand announcement of Google Buzz.  Buzz is integrated into Gmail, so clearly Google is trying to leverage their Gmail user base to create a Facebook- and Twitter-killer.

As I pointed out in this post Tuesday, there are 2 big problems with that.

1. It’s very difficult to get someone to move to a new social network because to make it worthwhile not only does that person have to move, but so do their friends.
2. Google has less than 6% of the email market, compared to Facebook’s 70% of the social networking market.

Google Buzz would have to break new ground and be amazing to overcome those barriers.

It’s not.

Now that the dust has settled, here’s a sampling of what’s being written about Buzz

• The Truth About Google Buzz: It’s Late, Boring, And Lame
• Google Buzz Is A Twitter Killer? Don’t Make Me Laugh
• Google Buzz: Privacy nightmare

I’ve been playing with Buzz here and there over the last few days, and frankly, I’m bored.

It’s working out a lot like FriendFeed, aggregating updates from other social networks.  In Buzz ’m basically seeing the same updates from the same people that I see in Twitter, but in a more annoying format and a more intrusive way.

In my opinion, it’s a major Buzz Kill.

I decided to turn Buzz off.  Fortunately, that’s easy – just click the “turn off Buzz” link all the way at the bottom of Gmail/Buzz just above the copyright notice.

Have you tried out Buzz yet?  If so, what do you think about it?  Do you see much hope for it?  Are you going to keep using it?