Google+ social network flop finally wiped from the web as failed Facebook contender is shut down for good

GOOGLE'S social media flop Google+ has finally come to an end.

Boffins at the search giant yesterday began the process of deleting content from the failed network.

4

4

It comes after Google bosses officially announced in December their attempt at taking on the likes of Facebook and Twitter had failed.

They pledged to shut down the site and remove it from the web this month.

Millions of Gmail users were automatically set up with Google+ accounts when it launched in June 2011.

But very few of them actually posted to the side - causing it to quickly fade into obscurity.

SITE BEING DELETED

Web-users who visited the Google+ website yesterday were presented with a notice informing them that the site was being dismantled.

The statement read: "Google+ is no longer available for consumer (personal) and brand accounts.

"From all of us on the Google+ team, thank you for making Google+ such a special place."

The network's final demise comes just months after a series of embarrassing data breaches affected as many as 53million users.

Enterprise Google+ accounts - belonging to businesses - will continue to operate for the time-being.

LOW USAGE

As well as the data blunders, Google acknowledged that "very low usage of the consumer version of Google+" contributed to the decision to mothball the site.

Ben Smith, Google's vice president of engineering, admitted last October that around 90 percent of Google+ user sessions lasted less than five seconds.

He wrote in a blog post: "While our engineering teams have put a lot of effort and dedication into building Google+ over the years, it has not achieved broad consumer or developer adoption, and has seen limited user interaction with apps."

MOST READ IN TECH

BAD CALL

Android owners must update their phone NOW after 'high' security warning

SKY HIGH

Sky customers receive FREE ad-skipping and a bonus premium channel for four months

GOOD CALL

Google plots Android upgrade that could stop annoying phone calls

CLEVER CLOGS

I visited a 'smart cottage' that tracks my phone to warm up before I get home

The firm posted a notice in January telling users to back up their Google+ data - like pics and other info - before it began deleting accounts.

New accounts were stopped on February 4.

Google+ joins other defunct social media sites like Bebo and Myspace that have been crushed by the Facebook juggernaut.

4

4

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.