Google Buzz?

Gmail invited me to start participating in Buzz this morning. I can't tell if this is supposed to be a Facebook killer or a Twitter killer.

What I've seen so far looks like a weird hybrid. I'm "technically" a power twitter user, and I don't see something in Buzz that will replace Twitter for me (yet). I would really like it to kill Facebook dead, though. The only thing about Facebook that ever appealed to me was the friend feed--a good way of sharing updates and bits of media in a closed, personal network. I can't even tell if Buzz posts are open or closed yet--though I had to close my Facebook manually to keep my mother from snooping, so I'm guessing it is open.

It seems Google is going to roll this out over the next few days. So far they harvested seven people for me to follow, out of my address book. I may trim that down. I hope to see some of you pop up there, though. And I really hope this means Facebook's days are numbered.

More.

My twitter.

Update: Not having more control over who will see my updates could be a big problem here. Because Facebook is a discreet network, it is easy enough to toggle shit to "hide my from everyone except friends." Because Buzz is linked to Gmail, it will require a bit more management, and thus more figuring out. *groan*

If anyone wants me to pass along shit I figure out about Buzz's privacy settings, let me know.

Update 2: There is a privacy concern linked to Buzz, already. This freaked me out, too, but I think it is an overblown concern. It automatically builds a follow-list out of your email list, and that list is public. Which created a huge security breach for journalists with anonymous sources.

You can trim your follow list, but, like the man says, email is very different from social networking. Also, you can build your own private postings list, which should create that closed community aspect I maintain with my Facebook. Unfortunately, I don't like that this feels like picking and choosing friends.

Update and comment as you learn more about the privacy functionality of Buzz.

Update 3: No, there is a toggle under "edit profile" when you're looking at your profile that lets you hide your real name and your follow lists. Thank jeebus. I'm thinking Google really shot itself in the foot with this roll-out.