Google+ reasserted its reign this week as the social media king of the animated GIF, allowing users to post moving pictures as their profile pics.
When Google+ launched, its ability to post animated GIFs to a profile's wall was one of the most exciting features it held over the competition at Facebook and Twitter.
“Our gif to you,” the official Google+ profile announced Monday. “You can now use animated gifs for your profile photo.”
The animated GIFs would only move on a user’s actual profile page, and only moving on a feed page it it was recently updated.
A lot of the reaction from users, at least the ones who felt strongly enough to comment on the official thread, seemed pretty negative.
“Oh, hell no!” said William Beem.
“I find animated gifs really annoying, so disable them using the Opera web browser on my PC,” Ant Owen said. “I hope they don't end up being forced upon us via the G+ Android app. Sorry Google, it's a big -1 from me.”
“March 25, 2013 - The day Google+ became the new MySpace,... congrats Google, you took 1995 design ideas that no one wants anymore, and forced 'em on everybody!” said Bruce Jenner (but probably not THAT Bruce Jenner).
Others were more diplomatic.
“People crying about animated gifs are like the Internet police who meltdown every time they see a post in all caps. You have the freedom to un-follow or not read anything you don't want, enjoy that freedom,” Mike Gentry posted.
“I'm hurt at how so many people are throwing Google's gift right back in their face,” Ned Lexus posted. “It was a gift, come on! I don't like gifs, and I think no gifs means more sophistication, but there's no need to be mean about it. Thanks for your gift Google!”
