Google now lets +1 show friends' read items

Google has made its +1 button more powerful and social for users of its Google News service, by letting users know what news articles their friends are enjoying.

 

Software engineer Erich Schmidt said signed-in users can see the articles their Gmail contacts and those in their Google+ circles are reading.

 

"Starting today, the Spotlight section will sometimes include articles that your Gmail contacts and people in your Google+ circles have publicly +1’d. You can see their profile pictures and click through to their Google+ profiles, just like on Social Search," Schmidt said in a blog post.

 

Also, users can +1 the stories too, "expressing your opinion and optionally sharing with your circles," Schmidt added.

 

Google's +1 button has so far been adopted in various websites, including Google News.

 

But Schmidt noted that until now, there has not been an easy way for signed-in users to see what news articles their friends are enjoying.

 

"We hope this change helps you find more great articles to enjoy, and gives more power to your +1s," Schmidt said. — TJD, GMA News