BEFORE TODAY, ANYONE who wanted to create a Gmail account would automatically be signed up to the company’s social network Google+, but this requirement has been quietly removed.
The social network, which was launched in 2011, was integrated with all of Google’s products including Gmail, YouTube, and the +1 button.
The change, first spotted by The Telegraph, will now allow new users to decide whether they want to create a Google+ account instead of doing it automatically.
Google has been said to be reorganising Google+ by breaking it down into different, smaller products.
Earlier this month, the company separated Hangouts, its video calling service which allows you to chat to 10 people, from the social network, while earlier reports suggested that it would separate its photos service from it as well.
Also, Vic Gundotra, who was the main driving force behind the service, left the company in April, suggesting that Google+ might face an uncertain future. However, Google’s chief executive Larry Page said it would continue to invest in the service.
The service has over 300 million active users worldwide although some have claimed that these numbers are skewed since they don’t define whether those who use Gmail or YouTube as active users.
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