Email via Google+ is a Taste of the Future with a Terrible Introduction

Google used the commotion around CES to sneak a new, and controversial, feature into its increasingly integrated Google+ platform. The company now allows anyone on Google+ to email someone via Gmail, even if they haven’t exchanged email addresses.

Have you ever started typing an email to someone only to realize halfway through the draft that you haven’t actually exchanged email addresses? If you are nodding your head ‘yes’ and already have a Google+ profile, then you’re in luck, because now it’s easier for people using Gmail and Google+ to connect over email. As an extension of some earlier improvements that keep Gmail contacts automatically up to date using Google+, Gmail will suggest your Google+ connections as recipients when you are composing a new email.

A Terrible Idea…

To clarify, there are two basic things happening here. First, Google is letting those in your Google+ circles send you an email, even if they don’t have your email address. That’s sort of cool because, presumably, you’d want to know when someone in your circles is trying to get in touch with you (although there are assuredly many cases in which folks wouldn’t want this). But, in general, all someone in your circles needs to do to send you an email is type your name into the “To” field. Google won’t reveal your email address to the sender, but they’ll still be able to create and send a message to you via Gmail.

The second, and far more controversial feature involves the same basic idea as above, but applied to anyone on Google+. That’s a terrible idea. Google touts that “you’re in control” of these new features, which is technically true, but the company turned this feature on by default for everyone, effectively making it an “opt-out” situation and exposing those unaware of the change to unwanted email from complete strangers.

Google does offer a few protections, however. While these unsolicited emails from those in your circles are put in your “Primary” Gmail tab, those from the broader Google+ network get routed to the “Social” tab. Also, Google lets anyone send you one email to start, but the sender is prohibited from sending you additional emails until you approve the first one.

It’s also important to clarify that this change applies only to people with both a Google+ and Gmail account. If you set dear old grandma up with a Gmail account a few years ago, there’s no need to rush over and let her know about this change; she’s not affected…at least not yet.

…With an Upside

Admittedly, this new feature stinks, especially when current users are automatically opted-in without proper notice. But we can see where Google is going here, even if we’re terrified of the company. Options for communication are trending toward a unified online presence. While the current system of individual platforms (phone, email, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) works, it’s far from ideal. Users have to manage multiple services, and business and personal communication is limited by the accuracy of these various bits of contact info.

What Google, Facebook, and other large social platforms see is a future where there’s no distinction between methods of communication. Micro-blogging, video chatting, VoIP, email, and more will be combined into a single online presence (which Google obviously hopes it can provide). In this future scenario, if you want to get in touch with someone, you just type their name, and your message will be transmitted to them via the most appropriate context: a silent text if they’re in a meeting, an audio voicemail, or even a direct video chat via Google Glass.

You can see Google working towards this end, not only with today’s changes to Gmail and Google+, but also in moves like the recent changes to YouTube and the requirement that users of Google services provide real names.

While such a transition can have incredible benefits, the world I describe – the world I think Google will do everything it can to bring us – is so far removed from the current understanding of communication, privacy, and control that it will take a long and painful journey to get there. It’s very interesting to see Google pursue this strategy, but it’s disappointing that the company doesn’t have the foresight to roll it out gradually, providing users with proper education, notice, and the choice to opt-in rather than be forced to opt-out.

I’m Not Ready for This. How Do I Disable ‘Email via Google+?’

Thankfully, despite all the hoopla over today’s announcement, it’s relatively easy to disable the “Email via Google+” feature.

First, log in to the Web interface for Gmail. Then click on the gear in the upper-right side of the screen, choose Settings, and make sure you’re on the General tab.

Look for the entry “Email via Google+” and change the drop-down box from “Anyone on Google+” to “No One.” That will completely turn this new feature off. Alternatively, if you like the idea of letting your circles email you directly, but just not the entire Google+ community, you can choose permission levels based on immediate and extended circles. When you’ve made your changes, scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save Changes.

You’re all set; Google+ and Gmail should now revert to the default behavior, and those without your Gmail address won’t be able to send you emails. We just hope that Google maintains the opt-out ability and, unlike its heavy hand with YouTube changes, it doesn’t eventually force all users to adopt the system.