Before we begin, here is a point to ponder: even if Google’s Buzz needs changes, do we need the Buzz?

Google’s Buzz social networking tool came out of the blue. It surprised everyone and Google thought that this wonderful new web service will bring delight to many people.

Google was wrong. Just ask Harriet Jacobs, an American woman and a well known blogger. She suddenly found her buzz being followed by an ex-husband simply because she had corresponded with him before.

Now, if this was on Facebook, then the usual internet reaction of face palming and proclamations of “fail” would be justified. But this is Google Buzz. With Facebook, before you do anything, before anyone will even see your profile, you get to decide what appears on your page. Before your account goes public, you customize your visibility. Before anything happens, you are given the almighty power to approve or deny it.

Google gives you nothing at all.

The moment you click the button that brings you see Buzz on your Gmail account, the default settings kick in and anyone in your contact page becomes a follower and you are suddenly following them.

Just imagine the crazy ex; the one who you were still with when you signed up for Gmail. These days, it is almost impossible to have never corresponded through email. Yeah. Now imagine that person following your updates.

Even if you have not posted an update, it abhors us thinking that you need to actually think about editing the settings before doing anything. Not everyone is tech-savvy. This is why privacy settings are force introduced by social networks upon signing up. It is not a given. Only a war veteran would check a quiet open field for mines, a dentist would simply stroll through.

Get more buzz about Google Buzz at Times Online UK.

Google just released the new Buzz social networking tool.

Do we really need a new social network?

Microsoft says no, we don’t –before going off to say that they have integrated hotmail into many existing social network tools and applications; though one must wonder whether anyone really enjoys using hotmail accounts in the first place.

Yahoo! says that they have had a similarly named tool that does the same thing, and it has been around for over a year and half. For a service that has been around for so long, this is practically the first time we have heard about it.

So the competition is not giving Google any kudos, that’s to be expected. But more surprising is the fact that even Google users are not too keen on the new tool. So far, it s impressive that the Gmail integrated social networking tool will also have its own mobile version (exclusive to Android versions 2.0 and above only).

But so far, it seems that not many people are into it. I for one just received by Google Buzz tool when I opened my Gmail account this morning and so far, there is nothing much to do with it.

Demonstrations of the Buzz show that you can use it in pretty much the same way as Facebook status updates or Twitter Tweets. You can even place links and videos (integrated with Picasa, Flickr and YouTube of course) on your posts. According to Google, the Buzz will not only wok great as a social networking tool, it can even be used by schools or businesses.

It has been hit or miss thing when it comes to Google services. Some are outright odd and not really that useful like Google Wave, and some are totally amazing, like Google Earth and Google Maps.

Read more about the new Google Buzz on Times Online UK.