The moment the internet caught wind of Google+, Google’s shiny new social networking site, I have to admit I was mildly excited with anticipation. It boldly marketed itself as the “Facebook Killer.” Now that it’s finally here, let me share my thoughts.

First of all, Google+ will not kill Facebook. Not now, and maybe not ever. But hey, it took Facebook a few years to explode onto the mainstream scene. When Facebook blew up, it was unprecedented—impossible to ignore. Everyone and their mother jumped on that bandwagon, including your aunts, uncles, grandmas, and grandpas. However, Google+ has the potential to make a splash, but only if it plays its cards right. And so far? I’m not convinced it’s on the right track. For starters, the rollout has been a letdown. Those beta invites have been as elusive as a decent Wi-Fi signal in a coffee shop, and frankly, I don’t think this exclusivity is helping them, like it did for Facebook back in its Harvard days. If you want people to join the damn network, let them join!

Now let’s dive into the Circles. Circles are Google’s clever way of letting users filter what they share. You can group your various friends into different “circles” and share exclusively with them. It’s like having a neat little compartment for all the different facets of your life—so you can keep your boss, your best friend, and your ex from mingling. “Put your boss in a circle all by himself—just like real life!” Your friends can’t see what circle you put them in, dodging any potential animosity. Simple yet brilliant! Sure, you could argue that Facebook offers similar privacy controls, but who has time to wrestle with those complicated settings? Certainly not your aunts, uncles, and grandmas. Google has come up with a straightforward solution for code-switching. Bravo!

One of the main reasons people love Facebook is its photo tagging feature. Admittedly, I despise it and don’t use it, but the majority of Facebook users seem to thrive on it. However, Google+ appears to prioritize user privacy more than Facebook does. Don’t you just loathe those annoying spam mentions on Twitter? Or waking up to find that a friend added you to a group you’d never join in a million years? Google+ promises to keep that nonsense at bay. The un-tag feature on Facebook is an exercise in futility—there’s nothing quite as infuriating as being tagged in a candid shot of you mid-sneeze or, worse, mid-yawn. And you find out a day or two later, only to un-tag yourself from the humiliation after who-knows-how-many people have seen it. With Google+, your friends will need to ask your permission before tagging you in that photo of you passed out in your own vomit from last Saturday night. Crisis averted!

I prefer the aesthetic of Google+ over Facebook’s cluttered layout. Sure, that’s subjective, but I think Google+ showcases user photos in a sleeker manner. The grid format is much tidier and more straightforward than Facebook’s mess. And honestly, those recent changes to Facebook’s layout? So annoying! Who asked for another sidebar on the homepage? Utterly pointless.

Let’s be real: Google is an unstoppable force. It has cemented itself as a major player on the internet. Google makes it easy to integrate all the popular services into one convenient package. My YouTube, Gmail, Analytics, and Google+ accounts are all under one login—it’s a dream for a geek like me. I get that not everyone has multiple accounts to juggle, but the potential Google+ offers is impressive. Decluttering my online life sounds damn appealing!

But here’s the kicker: Google+ will only thrive if it conquers its biggest challenge—actually building a network. I may be sold, but getting the rest of the world on board is going to be a tough sell, especially since everyone and their mother is already entrenched in Facebook. It took a while to convince people to jump on the Facebook train; coaxing them over to Google+ won’t be a walk in the park. Users will have to relearn the ropes of Google+, just like they did with Facebook, and let’s face it—people hate change. Learning a whole new vocabulary doesn’t happen overnight, and “+1” just doesn’t have the same catchy ring as Facebook’s “like.” Plus, what does “plus one” even mean? Plus one what?

And while I’m excited about the Circles feature, it might not resonate with everyone—especially older folks. A lot of them don’t care who sees what they share, as long as they can share. Many users keep Facebook just to snoop or wish people a happy birthday, without ever posting updates themselves. So, let’s be real—there’s not much incentive for people to ditch Facebook for Google+.

The reality is that Google+ doesn’t really offer anything new. Something better? Sure. But new? Not so much. Google+ is essentially a more functional version of Facebook. Will it outshine Facebook? I hope so, but honestly, I’m skeptical. Google+ might have its advantages, but until the general public makes the leap, it remains a desolate wasteland. After all, a social network needs to be social, first and foremost.