There has been quite an outcry over the new Google sidewiki feature. If you don't know what it is, the video below explains it well.
I think the outcry about this is really blown out of proportion. There are hundreds of ways people can talk about you on the internet. Review sites, blogs, twitter, facebook. It’s all over and in most cases companies are not even aware they are being talked about. All Google did here was create a communication channel that can be displayed next to the site it’s talking about.
Some things to note:
It’s currently only available to people that have the Google toolbar installed and are logged in with a Google account. There is a bookmarklet called Sidewinder that allows someone without the Google toolbar to just display the comments for a page. So you do have to be authenticated to Google.
Google searchwiki has been available for over a year. If you are logged on with a Google account and you do a search, you can add comments attached to any search result, and any other Google user will see there are comments if the same result comes up for them in a search. Has that function caused any major outcry. It’s basically the same thing.
My guess is if your site is registered with Google Webmaster Tools, they will eventually add a way for you to be notified when comments are made about any of your pages.
I’ve heard people say, “I already have my own commenting tool and this splits the conversation and removes any control I have to remove and edit comments.”
That may be a BAD thing for some…. I think it’s a GOOD thing. You shouldn’t be editing the stream of what people say about you to spin your own message. When I look at review sites, there’s always fringe comments that you can tell don’t jive with the bulk of reviews and you just automatically self edit them. If someone posts something on sidewiki that you disagree with, post a response, just like you would if they posted something wrong about you on Twitter, or facebook or on their blog.
I've also heard predictions that it won't last once Google starts getting hit with lawsuits. I’m sure thy will, but just like the Tony LaRussa Twitter lawsuit they will most likely be thrown out. Your argument is with the person that commented about you, not the tool they used to comment with. If I slander you on the telephone you don’t sue Verizon, you sue me.
To me this is just another communication vehicle. If it becomes as popular as searchwiki, we have nothing to worry about. Most average internet users don’t even know it exists.
