On Google+, no one knows who thinks you’re a dog.

What is it about Google+ that’s got 10 million people to sign up? At first I thought it was the much touted “Circles,” but upon reflection, I don’t think they’re the “killer app.” The circles are genius — no dispute — but they’re not much different from “Groups” on Facebook.

What I think is the even bigger innovation on Google+ is the fact that circles work like twitter, i.e.: they don’t need to be reciprocal. No more awkward middle schoolesque dance around “Do you want to be my friend?” Pick “Yes” or “No.” It’s the same with Groups on Facebook. I never use the feature because maybe I don’t want everyone to see how they’re categorized.

But on Google+ no one knows who thinks you’re a dog. There’s no “friending,” and your circles’ names are anonymous. You can include people in your social circle, but no one but you knows how they fit in.

Of course, I think Google+ still needs to work some out some issues. I don’t like the fact that I can’t edit permissions on a post after I hit enter and I find it odd you need to “opt out” to disable re-sharing… it seems too simple for someone in your inner circle to share out to others outside it by “reblogging.” The potential for virality is good for business but bad for privacy. (Maybe if your name wasn’t permanently attached to a post?) But in general I really like this system.

Plus it helps that Google is new enough to the social networking game that we can still trust it. (Everyone forgot about Buzz, right? Everyone except the FCC…) On Facebook, you never knew when Zuck might “redefine” what you consider private for you.

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