i copied this explanation by google of their new "steamlining" system ....in my eyes more like big brother control !
An update on Google Friend Connect
December 21, 2015
In 2011, we announced the retirement of Google Friend Connect for all non-Blogger sites. We made an exception for Blogger to give readers an easy way to follow blogs using a variety of accounts. Yet over time, we’ve seen that most people sign into Friend Connect with a Google Account. So, in an effort to streamline, in the next few weeks we’ll be making some changes that will eventually require readers to have a Google Account to sign into Friend Connect and follow blogs.
As part of this plan, starting the week of January 11, we’ll remove the ability for people with Twitter, Yahoo, Orkut or other OpenId providers to sign in to Google Friend Connect and follow blogs. At the same time, we’ll remove non-Google Account profiles so you may see a decrease in your blog follower count.
We encourage you to tell affected readers (perhaps via a blog post), that if they use a non-Google Account to follow your blog, they need to sign up for a Google Account, and re-follow your blog. With a Google Account, they’ll get blogs added to their Reading List, making it easier for them to see the latest posts and activity of the blogs they follow.
We know how important followers are to all bloggers, but we believe this change will improve the experience for both you and your readers.
Posted by Michael Goddard, Software Engineer
Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteThey announced it in 2011 to realise it in 2016?
But anyway- I don't think, the former visitors can't see the blogs anymore.
Realising this would cut the traffic to google and I'm pretty sure, they don't want that.
Perhaps you can't show them in your blog via widget anymore. I myself usually 'follow by URL'
(Btw. I don't like google -and have tested some alternatives as they got 'Blogger' into their kingdom.
But didn't found what I like so far.)
- Apart from that, you're so right being attentive to 'big brother' always watching us.
i think your right that those people can still see the blogs but just cant "follow" them, as google would lose lots of traffic ...there was a debate on the radio today about google and the lack of tax it pays , some people were leaving google and were using "bing" but most people agreed google was the best search engine ...its just that they have to know so much about everyone that is the problem....sigh ....
DeleteYou beat me to it! That was my thought as well, do these people realise that they are no longer 'following'
ReplyDeleteWill post this to my page as well.
sorry lorraine , didnt want to jump on the thing that you highlighted in the first place but it made me cross so felt i needed to point out what had happenned , i doubt the people realise they are no longer following as its an automatic thing that once set up just happenned...doubt they have been notified of the changes xxx
DeleteThanks for answering!
ReplyDeleteIMHO, the searchengine is not a prob. There are more -and if they don't find what you looking for, you can switch back to google in that case.
Mine is Ecosia f.e.
https://www.ecosia.org/
and I got 'Cliqz' additionel.
It's indeed the data, I don't like them to collect.
If we don't use google and don't connect everything and all - we are safer, but have a little less comfort...
The lack of tax is the other thing. There are more of those companies... H&M or Starbucks etc.
DeleteOne have to decide if one want to support them by buying from them -or not.
Sooorry, I'm always thinking political.
my husband is always talking politics , i just listen while he is voicing debates ....i add "mmm" and "yes" in the appropriate places while i am really thinking about other things :) x
Delete