My thoughts on Google's Jan 30th announcement, and a timeline overview
Originally shared by Filip H.F. “FiXato” Slagter
Google finally provided additional details and dates regarding the shutdown of Google+
Below I've included a copy of the official announcement with more information that was provided today, though I would suggest reading the most recent version at: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9195133
I've also included the official F.A.Q. further down the page, but I recommend reading the full, up-to-date version at: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9217723?hl=en&ref_topic=9195238
Most important things (imho) to learn from these documents:
• Timeline:
° January 28 (2 days ago): the APIs (used by third party developers to access content from Google+ through programming) will start experiencing intermittent failures.
° February 4th: no longer able to create new Google+ profiles, pages, communities or events
° February 4th: *Google+ for comments will be removed from Blogger blogs.
° March 7th: Google+ for comments will be removed from all other sites
March 7th: All Google+ APIs (again, this applies mostly to developers and users of third-party tools) will be shut down⁸, which includes the already deprecated Google+ Sign-in. The new Google Sign-In that replaces Google+ Sign-In will continue to work and should be used instead.
° Early March 2019, additional data will be available for download [for Community owners], including author, body, and photos for every community post in a public community.
° April 2nd: your Google+ account and any Google+ pages you created will be shut down (i.e. you'll likely won't be able to log in anymore)
° April 2nd: Google will also start deleting consumer Google+ content starting this date. This process is expected to be a gradual one, lasting several months.
° April 2nd: Google will start deleting all your Google+ comments on all sites.
° Start of April: it sounds like that you will no longer be able to do a Google Data Takeout of your Google+ related data from this data; or at least it will likely not contain all data anymore as Google deletes the data. (From.the FAQ: «Yes, you can download² and save your content multiple times before April 2019.»)
• Community owners will be able to download additional data for their public communities, from early March. So, while at the moment the Google Data Takeout archive contains only metadata, Google announced author, body and photos for every post in your community will also become available for download starting Early March.
° The announcement explicitly mentions public communities; it's unclear if this will be available to private communities too.
° It's also unclear if this includes comments
° It sounds like this will only be available to the owners of a community, but hopefully it will also become available to members. If you are a community member, it might be worthwhile to send in a request through Google Feedback, or ask for clarification on the FAQ document.
° It's not clear either if this will be provided through Google Data Takeout, or through Google+'s interface itself., though I would expect the former.
• Included in the content that will be deleted, is:
° Your posts to the consumer version of Google+.
° Photos and videos from Google+ in your Album Archive: https://get.google.com/albumarchive
° your Google+ pages will also be deleted.
• While Google+ Pages are deleted, their associated Brand Accounts will continue to exist, so associated YouTube channels and such should not be lost/affected.
*• Save your Album Archive of photos/media uploaded to Google+ and Events:
Content in Album Archive will be deleted starting April 2nd, so if you want to make sure you have an offline copy, make sure you visit https://get.google.com/albumarchive to download a backup.
° It's not fully clear to me if the Photos item in the Google+ Stream Google Data Takeout contains all the media that's also available through Album Archive, so it might be wise to download a copy of both, and use software like DupeGuru or fdupes to delete duplicates.
Copies of the new documents provided by Google today:
Google's January 30th announcement:
Shutting down Google+ for consumer (personal) accounts on April 2, 2019
January 30, 2019
In December 2018, we announced¹ our decision to shut down Google+ for consumers in April 2019 due to low usage and challenges involved in maintaining a successful product that meets consumers’ expectations. We want to thank you for being part of Google+ and provide next steps, including how to download your photos and other content.
On April 2nd, your Google+ account and any Google+ pages you created will be shut down and we will begin deleting content from consumer Google+ accounts.
Photos and videos from Google+ in your Album Archive and your Google+ pages will also be deleted. You can download and save your content², just make sure to do so before April. Note that photos and videos backed up in Google Photos will not be deleted.
The process of deleting content from consumer Google+ accounts, Google+ Pages, and Album Archive will take a few months, and content may remain through this time. For example, users may still see parts of their Google+ account via activity log and some consumer Google+ content may remain visible to G Suite users until consumer Google+ is deleted.
As early as February 4th, you will no longer be able to create new Google+ profiles, pages, communities or events.
See the full FAQ³ for more details and updates leading up to the shutdown.
If you’re a Google+ Community owner or moderator, you may download² and save your data for your Google+ Community.
Starting early March 2019, additional data will be available for download, including author, body, and photos for every community post in a public community. Learn more⁴.
If you sign in to sites and apps using the Google+ Sign-in button,
these buttons will stop working in the coming weeks but in some cases may be replaced by a Google Sign-in button. You’ll still be able to sign in with your Google Account wherever you see Google Sign-in buttons. Learn more⁵.
If you’ve used Google+ for comments on your own or other sites, this feature will be removed from Blogger by February 4th and other sites by March 7th.
All your Google+ comments on all sites will be deleted starting April 2, 2019.
Learn more⁶.
If you’re a G Suite customer, Google+ for your G Suite account should remain active.
Contact your G Suite administrator⁷ for more details. You can also expect a new look and new features soon. Learn more
If you're a developer using Google+ APIs or Google+ Sign-in,
[visit https://developers.google.com/%2B/api-shutdown] ⁸ to see how this will impact you.
From all of us on the Google+ team, thank you for making Google+ such a special place. We are grateful for the talented group of artists, community builders, and thought leaders who made Google+ their home. It would not have been the same without your passion and dedication.
source: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9195133
archived and (slightly) reformatted by FiXato on Jan 30th 2019
≠≠≠≠
Google's F.A.Q. as provided January 30th:
Frequently asked questions about the Google+ shutdown
To help you navigate the consumer Google+ shutdown, here’s a list of common questions that may come up for you during this process. As more information becomes available, we’ll add it here.
General Questions
Why shut down Google+ for consumers?
Given the challenges in creating and maintaining a successful Google+ that meets our consumer users’ expectations, we decided to sunset¹ the consumer version of Google+. We’re committed to focusing on our enterprise efforts, and will be launching new features purpose-built for businesses. Read the announcement.⁹
How can I stay in touch with my Google+ followers?
Between now and the shutdown, we recommend you let your followers know where they can see your content outside of Google+. Consider creating a post that lists your website, blog, social media channels, and other ways to stay in touch.
Will Google be saving my Google+ content?
As part of the consumer Google+ shutdown, we are deleting content from consumer Google+ accounts (other than content we’re required to keep for legal reasons). Photos and videos from Google+ in your Album Archive and your Google+ pages will also be deleted. You can download² and save your content, just make sure to do so before April. Note that your photos and videos backed up in Google Photos will not be deleted.
While we bring consumer Google+ to a close, we are continuing our investment in Google+ for the enterprise. More details here⁹. You can check to see if you have a G Suite account here.¹⁰
Are there any cases where Google+ content will not be deleted from consumer Google+ accounts?
Certain Google+ content may not be deleted from consumer Google+ if it is needed in order to meet any applicable law, regulation, legal process, legal obligation (including legal preservation obligations), or governmental request.
How long will it take for the content in my Google+ account to be deleted?
The process of deleting content from consumer Google+ accounts, Google+ Pages, and Album Archive will take a few months, and content may remain through this time. For example, users may still see parts of their Google+ account via activity log and some consumer Google+ content may remain visible to G Suite users until consumer Google+ is deleted.
Will I still have access to other Google services after my Google+ content is deleted?
Yes, your access to other Google services will not be impacted by the Google+ shutdown.
Downloading your Google+ content
What should I do before the shutdown, and what's the timeline?
On April 2nd, your Google+ account and any Google+ pages you created will be shut down and we will begin deleting content from consumer Google+ accounts. Photos and videos from Google+ in your Album Archive and your Google+ pages will also be deleted. You can download² and save your content, just make sure to do so before April.
Can I download my Google+ content?
You can download² and save your Google+ data, including your Circles, Communities, Streams, and +1s.
Can I download my Google+ content more than once?
Yes, you can download² and save your content multiple times before April 2019.
Can I delete my Google+ account or Google+ page now?
Yes. See this help article¹¹ to learn more about what happens when you delete your Google+ profile. Make sure to download and save any Google+ data you want to keep before deleting your Google+ account or page.
How do I download my Google+ Communities content?
Community owners and moderators may download² and save data for their Google+ Communities. Currently, this downloaded data only includes links to community posts. Starting early March 2019, you will also be able to download additional details from public communities, including author, body, and photos for every community post. See this help article under "Google+ Communities."⁴
Will my photos and videos from Google+ continue to exist in Album Archive?
No, photos and videos from Google+ in Album Archive¹² and photos and videos from your Google+ brand account will be deleted as early as April 2, 2019. You can download² and save your content, just make sure to do so before April.
•Photos and videos backed up in Google Photos will not be deleted. Note that some photos and videos uploaded from Google+ may remain available in Google Photos. These photos and videos will remain in Google Photos after the Google+ shutdown:
•Photos and videos uploaded to Google+ before Google Photos launched in 2015
•Photos and videos backed up at any time using older versions of Google+ mobile apps (from 2015 or earlier)
•Photos and videos that were associated with Google+ Events
If you’re unsure if these conditions apply and you want to keep your photos and videos from Google+, we recommend you download² and save all photos and videos from Google+.
How do I ensure I save all photos and videos from Google+?
To be certain you’re saving all photos and videos from Google+, you should follow the instructions to download² and save all Google+ content.
If I've already deleted my Google+ account, are there any actions I should take?
When you previously deleted your consumer Google+ account or your Google+ page, we informed you that your photos and videos from Google+ wouldn’t be deleted from Album Archive¹² and that your Google+ Events content wouldn’t be deleted. This will also be deleted starting April 2. If you want to save these photos, videos, and event content, download¹² them before April.
* G Suite and Google+*
What is a G Suite account?
G Suite is an integrated suite of collaboration and productivity apps for businesses that includes Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar, Hangouts Meet and more. Learn more¹³
How do I know if I have a G Suite or consumer (personal) Google+ account?
If you use Google+ for work or school, you probably have a G Suite account. You can check to see if you have a G Suite account here.¹⁰
How will G Suite accounts be impacted?
G Suite customers may see some upcoming changes to Google+ features related to the consumer shutdown. If you’re a G Suite customer, you can find more details here¹⁴ or you can talk to your G Suite administrator¹⁰ to learn more.
Will Google+ continue to be available to G Suite for Education users?
Organizations using G Suite for Education will have the same access as other G Suite customers. If you participate in Google+ communities, please note that some Google+ communities may be impacted as part of the shutdown. For more information about the effect of the shutdown on communities, find details here.¹⁴
Are Google+ pages part of G Suite?
Google+ pages¹⁵ are not part of G Suite and will be shut down and deleted with the rest of the consumer Google+ platform. The associated brand accounts¹⁶ will continue to exist without Google+, so you can continue to use them with other Google products such as YouTube channels.
How the Google+ shutdown affects other applications
What is happening to the Google+ APIs?
All Google+ APIs will be shut down⁸ on March 7, 2019, which includes Google+ Sign-in. Developers should migrate¹⁷ to the more comprehensive Google Sign-in¹⁸ authentication system. This will be a progressive shutdown, with intermittent failures starting as early as January 28, 2019. For more information, see our Google+ API shutdown page⁸.
Will the API shutdown affect external sites?
Google+ integrations for web and mobile¹⁹ apps will cease to function March 7, 2019. The Google+ Sign-in²⁰ feature has been fully deprecated and will also be shut down on March 7, 2019. Developers should migrate¹⁷ to the more comprehensive Google Sign-in¹⁸ authentication system.
What will happen to Google+ comments on Blogger and other sites?
Blogger and other sites may use Google+ for their commenting system. Comments on blogs may also exist as posts or comments on Google+. This feature will be removed from Blogger by Feb 4th and other sites by March 7th. All your Google+ comments on all sites will be deleted starting April 2, 2019. You can download² and save these comments.
Will the Google+ sign-in button continue to work on other sites?
No, these buttons will stop working by March 7th with intermittent failures starting January 28th. On some sites the Google+ Sign-in button may be replaced by a Google Sign-in button. You’ll still be able to sign in with your Google Account wherever you see Google Sign-in buttons.
Will Google+ shutdown impact the Google Play Services Public Beta Program?
As we begin shutting down Google+, users who have opted in to the Google Play Services Public Beta Program²¹ may experience issues using Google apps like Gmail and Hangouts. To avoid any interruptions in service, users can leave²² the Beta Program.
Additional help and resources
What if I have more questions?
If you need help or have unanswered questions about your personal Google+ account or your brand account’s Google+ page, you can look for the answer in the official Google+ Help community²³ until April 2019.
source: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9217723?hl=en&ref_topic=9195238
archived and (slightly) reformatted by FiXato on Jan 30th 2019
Footnotes and references
¹ Google's original announcement regarding the expedited shutdown of Google+: https://blog.google/technology/safety-security/expediting-changes-google-plus/
² Google's support page on how to download and save your content: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/1045788
³ Google's official F.A.Q. support page regarding the shutdown of Google+: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9217723
⁴ Google's support page on how to download and save your content, focused on Community data: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/1045788#communities
⁵ Google's support page section regarding Google+ Sign-in button: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9217723#signin
⁶ Google's support page section regarding Google+ Comments for Blogger/Blogspot: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9217723#blogger
⁷ Google's support page regarding contacting your G Suite Administrator: https://support.google.com/a/answer/6208960
⁸ Google's developer documentation regarding the shutdown of the Google Plus-related APIs: http://developers.google.com/+/api-shutdown
⁹ Google's official announcement regarding new enterprise-grade features for Foogle+ for G Suite domains: https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/g-suite/new-enterprise-grade-features-in-googleplus-help-businesses-drive-collaboration
¹⁰ Google's support page explaining how to check if you have a G Suite account: https://support.google.com/a/answer/6208960?hl=en
¹¹ Google's support page explaining how to delete your Google+ account manually and what happens when you do so: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/6320423
¹² Your "Album Archive": https://get.google.com/albumarchive/
¹³ Google's support page describing what G Suite is: https://support.google.com/a/topic/4425947
¹⁴ Google's support page with more details for G Suite customers: https://support.google.com/a/answer/9229693
¹⁵ Google's support page about Google+ Pages: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/1710600
¹⁶ Google's support page about Brand Accounts: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/7001996
¹⁷ Google's Developers Quick Migration Guide for Google Sign-In: https://developers.google.com/identity/sign-in/web/quick-migration-guide/
¹⁸ Google's Developers documentation for Google Sign-In / Identity: https://developers.google.com/identity/
¹⁹ Google's Developers support documentation for Google+ Integration for Mobile Apps: https://developers.google.com/+/mobile/android
²⁰ Google's Developers documentation regarding the deprecated Google+ Sign-In system: https://developers.google.com/+/web/signin/
²¹ Google's Developers documentation regarding the Google Play Services Public Beta Program: https://developers.google.com/android/guides/beta-program
²² Google's Developers documentation regarding the Google Play Services Public Beta Program, and specifically how to leave it to avoid interruptions: https://developers.google.com/android/guides/beta-program#leave_the_beta_program_using_the_opt-out_url_recommended
²³ Official Google+ Help Community on Google+: https://plus.google.com/communities/115758385206378551362
https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9195133
Originally shared by Filip H.F. “FiXato” Slagter
Google finally provided additional details and dates regarding the shutdown of Google+
Below I've included a copy of the official announcement with more information that was provided today, though I would suggest reading the most recent version at: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9195133
I've also included the official F.A.Q. further down the page, but I recommend reading the full, up-to-date version at: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9217723?hl=en&ref_topic=9195238
Most important things (imho) to learn from these documents:
• Timeline:
° January 28 (2 days ago): the APIs (used by third party developers to access content from Google+ through programming) will start experiencing intermittent failures.
° February 4th: no longer able to create new Google+ profiles, pages, communities or events
° February 4th: *Google+ for comments will be removed from Blogger blogs.
° March 7th: Google+ for comments will be removed from all other sites
March 7th: All Google+ APIs (again, this applies mostly to developers and users of third-party tools) will be shut down⁸, which includes the already deprecated Google+ Sign-in. The new Google Sign-In that replaces Google+ Sign-In will continue to work and should be used instead.
° Early March 2019, additional data will be available for download [for Community owners], including author, body, and photos for every community post in a public community.
° April 2nd: your Google+ account and any Google+ pages you created will be shut down (i.e. you'll likely won't be able to log in anymore)
° April 2nd: Google will also start deleting consumer Google+ content starting this date. This process is expected to be a gradual one, lasting several months.
° April 2nd: Google will start deleting all your Google+ comments on all sites.
° Start of April: it sounds like that you will no longer be able to do a Google Data Takeout of your Google+ related data from this data; or at least it will likely not contain all data anymore as Google deletes the data. (From.the FAQ: «Yes, you can download² and save your content multiple times before April 2019.»)
• Community owners will be able to download additional data for their public communities, from early March. So, while at the moment the Google Data Takeout archive contains only metadata, Google announced author, body and photos for every post in your community will also become available for download starting Early March.
° The announcement explicitly mentions public communities; it's unclear if this will be available to private communities too.
° It's also unclear if this includes comments
° It sounds like this will only be available to the owners of a community, but hopefully it will also become available to members. If you are a community member, it might be worthwhile to send in a request through Google Feedback, or ask for clarification on the FAQ document.
° It's not clear either if this will be provided through Google Data Takeout, or through Google+'s interface itself., though I would expect the former.
• Included in the content that will be deleted, is:
° Your posts to the consumer version of Google+.
° Photos and videos from Google+ in your Album Archive: https://get.google.com/albumarchive
° your Google+ pages will also be deleted.
• While Google+ Pages are deleted, their associated Brand Accounts will continue to exist, so associated YouTube channels and such should not be lost/affected.
*• Save your Album Archive of photos/media uploaded to Google+ and Events:
Content in Album Archive will be deleted starting April 2nd, so if you want to make sure you have an offline copy, make sure you visit https://get.google.com/albumarchive to download a backup.
° It's not fully clear to me if the Photos item in the Google+ Stream Google Data Takeout contains all the media that's also available through Album Archive, so it might be wise to download a copy of both, and use software like DupeGuru or fdupes to delete duplicates.
Copies of the new documents provided by Google today:
Google's January 30th announcement:
Shutting down Google+ for consumer (personal) accounts on April 2, 2019
January 30, 2019
In December 2018, we announced¹ our decision to shut down Google+ for consumers in April 2019 due to low usage and challenges involved in maintaining a successful product that meets consumers’ expectations. We want to thank you for being part of Google+ and provide next steps, including how to download your photos and other content.
On April 2nd, your Google+ account and any Google+ pages you created will be shut down and we will begin deleting content from consumer Google+ accounts.
Photos and videos from Google+ in your Album Archive and your Google+ pages will also be deleted. You can download and save your content², just make sure to do so before April. Note that photos and videos backed up in Google Photos will not be deleted.
The process of deleting content from consumer Google+ accounts, Google+ Pages, and Album Archive will take a few months, and content may remain through this time. For example, users may still see parts of their Google+ account via activity log and some consumer Google+ content may remain visible to G Suite users until consumer Google+ is deleted.
As early as February 4th, you will no longer be able to create new Google+ profiles, pages, communities or events.
See the full FAQ³ for more details and updates leading up to the shutdown.
If you’re a Google+ Community owner or moderator, you may download² and save your data for your Google+ Community.
Starting early March 2019, additional data will be available for download, including author, body, and photos for every community post in a public community. Learn more⁴.
If you sign in to sites and apps using the Google+ Sign-in button,
these buttons will stop working in the coming weeks but in some cases may be replaced by a Google Sign-in button. You’ll still be able to sign in with your Google Account wherever you see Google Sign-in buttons. Learn more⁵.
If you’ve used Google+ for comments on your own or other sites, this feature will be removed from Blogger by February 4th and other sites by March 7th.
All your Google+ comments on all sites will be deleted starting April 2, 2019.
Learn more⁶.
If you’re a G Suite customer, Google+ for your G Suite account should remain active.
Contact your G Suite administrator⁷ for more details. You can also expect a new look and new features soon. Learn more
If you're a developer using Google+ APIs or Google+ Sign-in,
[visit https://developers.google.com/%2B/api-shutdown] ⁸ to see how this will impact you.
From all of us on the Google+ team, thank you for making Google+ such a special place. We are grateful for the talented group of artists, community builders, and thought leaders who made Google+ their home. It would not have been the same without your passion and dedication.
source: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9195133
archived and (slightly) reformatted by FiXato on Jan 30th 2019
≠≠≠≠
Google's F.A.Q. as provided January 30th:
Frequently asked questions about the Google+ shutdown
To help you navigate the consumer Google+ shutdown, here’s a list of common questions that may come up for you during this process. As more information becomes available, we’ll add it here.
General Questions
Why shut down Google+ for consumers?
Given the challenges in creating and maintaining a successful Google+ that meets our consumer users’ expectations, we decided to sunset¹ the consumer version of Google+. We’re committed to focusing on our enterprise efforts, and will be launching new features purpose-built for businesses. Read the announcement.⁹
How can I stay in touch with my Google+ followers?
Between now and the shutdown, we recommend you let your followers know where they can see your content outside of Google+. Consider creating a post that lists your website, blog, social media channels, and other ways to stay in touch.
Will Google be saving my Google+ content?
As part of the consumer Google+ shutdown, we are deleting content from consumer Google+ accounts (other than content we’re required to keep for legal reasons). Photos and videos from Google+ in your Album Archive and your Google+ pages will also be deleted. You can download² and save your content, just make sure to do so before April. Note that your photos and videos backed up in Google Photos will not be deleted.
While we bring consumer Google+ to a close, we are continuing our investment in Google+ for the enterprise. More details here⁹. You can check to see if you have a G Suite account here.¹⁰
Are there any cases where Google+ content will not be deleted from consumer Google+ accounts?
Certain Google+ content may not be deleted from consumer Google+ if it is needed in order to meet any applicable law, regulation, legal process, legal obligation (including legal preservation obligations), or governmental request.
How long will it take for the content in my Google+ account to be deleted?
The process of deleting content from consumer Google+ accounts, Google+ Pages, and Album Archive will take a few months, and content may remain through this time. For example, users may still see parts of their Google+ account via activity log and some consumer Google+ content may remain visible to G Suite users until consumer Google+ is deleted.
Will I still have access to other Google services after my Google+ content is deleted?
Yes, your access to other Google services will not be impacted by the Google+ shutdown.
Downloading your Google+ content
What should I do before the shutdown, and what's the timeline?
On April 2nd, your Google+ account and any Google+ pages you created will be shut down and we will begin deleting content from consumer Google+ accounts. Photos and videos from Google+ in your Album Archive and your Google+ pages will also be deleted. You can download² and save your content, just make sure to do so before April.
Can I download my Google+ content?
You can download² and save your Google+ data, including your Circles, Communities, Streams, and +1s.
Can I download my Google+ content more than once?
Yes, you can download² and save your content multiple times before April 2019.
Can I delete my Google+ account or Google+ page now?
Yes. See this help article¹¹ to learn more about what happens when you delete your Google+ profile. Make sure to download and save any Google+ data you want to keep before deleting your Google+ account or page.
How do I download my Google+ Communities content?
Community owners and moderators may download² and save data for their Google+ Communities. Currently, this downloaded data only includes links to community posts. Starting early March 2019, you will also be able to download additional details from public communities, including author, body, and photos for every community post. See this help article under "Google+ Communities."⁴
Will my photos and videos from Google+ continue to exist in Album Archive?
No, photos and videos from Google+ in Album Archive¹² and photos and videos from your Google+ brand account will be deleted as early as April 2, 2019. You can download² and save your content, just make sure to do so before April.
•Photos and videos backed up in Google Photos will not be deleted. Note that some photos and videos uploaded from Google+ may remain available in Google Photos. These photos and videos will remain in Google Photos after the Google+ shutdown:
•Photos and videos uploaded to Google+ before Google Photos launched in 2015
•Photos and videos backed up at any time using older versions of Google+ mobile apps (from 2015 or earlier)
•Photos and videos that were associated with Google+ Events
If you’re unsure if these conditions apply and you want to keep your photos and videos from Google+, we recommend you download² and save all photos and videos from Google+.
How do I ensure I save all photos and videos from Google+?
To be certain you’re saving all photos and videos from Google+, you should follow the instructions to download² and save all Google+ content.
If I've already deleted my Google+ account, are there any actions I should take?
When you previously deleted your consumer Google+ account or your Google+ page, we informed you that your photos and videos from Google+ wouldn’t be deleted from Album Archive¹² and that your Google+ Events content wouldn’t be deleted. This will also be deleted starting April 2. If you want to save these photos, videos, and event content, download¹² them before April.
* G Suite and Google+*
What is a G Suite account?
G Suite is an integrated suite of collaboration and productivity apps for businesses that includes Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar, Hangouts Meet and more. Learn more¹³
How do I know if I have a G Suite or consumer (personal) Google+ account?
If you use Google+ for work or school, you probably have a G Suite account. You can check to see if you have a G Suite account here.¹⁰
How will G Suite accounts be impacted?
G Suite customers may see some upcoming changes to Google+ features related to the consumer shutdown. If you’re a G Suite customer, you can find more details here¹⁴ or you can talk to your G Suite administrator¹⁰ to learn more.
Will Google+ continue to be available to G Suite for Education users?
Organizations using G Suite for Education will have the same access as other G Suite customers. If you participate in Google+ communities, please note that some Google+ communities may be impacted as part of the shutdown. For more information about the effect of the shutdown on communities, find details here.¹⁴
Are Google+ pages part of G Suite?
Google+ pages¹⁵ are not part of G Suite and will be shut down and deleted with the rest of the consumer Google+ platform. The associated brand accounts¹⁶ will continue to exist without Google+, so you can continue to use them with other Google products such as YouTube channels.
How the Google+ shutdown affects other applications
What is happening to the Google+ APIs?
All Google+ APIs will be shut down⁸ on March 7, 2019, which includes Google+ Sign-in. Developers should migrate¹⁷ to the more comprehensive Google Sign-in¹⁸ authentication system. This will be a progressive shutdown, with intermittent failures starting as early as January 28, 2019. For more information, see our Google+ API shutdown page⁸.
Will the API shutdown affect external sites?
Google+ integrations for web and mobile¹⁹ apps will cease to function March 7, 2019. The Google+ Sign-in²⁰ feature has been fully deprecated and will also be shut down on March 7, 2019. Developers should migrate¹⁷ to the more comprehensive Google Sign-in¹⁸ authentication system.
What will happen to Google+ comments on Blogger and other sites?
Blogger and other sites may use Google+ for their commenting system. Comments on blogs may also exist as posts or comments on Google+. This feature will be removed from Blogger by Feb 4th and other sites by March 7th. All your Google+ comments on all sites will be deleted starting April 2, 2019. You can download² and save these comments.
Will the Google+ sign-in button continue to work on other sites?
No, these buttons will stop working by March 7th with intermittent failures starting January 28th. On some sites the Google+ Sign-in button may be replaced by a Google Sign-in button. You’ll still be able to sign in with your Google Account wherever you see Google Sign-in buttons.
Will Google+ shutdown impact the Google Play Services Public Beta Program?
As we begin shutting down Google+, users who have opted in to the Google Play Services Public Beta Program²¹ may experience issues using Google apps like Gmail and Hangouts. To avoid any interruptions in service, users can leave²² the Beta Program.
Additional help and resources
What if I have more questions?
If you need help or have unanswered questions about your personal Google+ account or your brand account’s Google+ page, you can look for the answer in the official Google+ Help community²³ until April 2019.
source: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9217723?hl=en&ref_topic=9195238
archived and (slightly) reformatted by FiXato on Jan 30th 2019
Footnotes and references
¹ Google's original announcement regarding the expedited shutdown of Google+: https://blog.google/technology/safety-security/expediting-changes-google-plus/
² Google's support page on how to download and save your content: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/1045788
³ Google's official F.A.Q. support page regarding the shutdown of Google+: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9217723
⁴ Google's support page on how to download and save your content, focused on Community data: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/1045788#communities
⁵ Google's support page section regarding Google+ Sign-in button: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9217723#signin
⁶ Google's support page section regarding Google+ Comments for Blogger/Blogspot: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9217723#blogger
⁷ Google's support page regarding contacting your G Suite Administrator: https://support.google.com/a/answer/6208960
⁸ Google's developer documentation regarding the shutdown of the Google Plus-related APIs: http://developers.google.com/+/api-shutdown
⁹ Google's official announcement regarding new enterprise-grade features for Foogle+ for G Suite domains: https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/g-suite/new-enterprise-grade-features-in-googleplus-help-businesses-drive-collaboration
¹⁰ Google's support page explaining how to check if you have a G Suite account: https://support.google.com/a/answer/6208960?hl=en
¹¹ Google's support page explaining how to delete your Google+ account manually and what happens when you do so: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/6320423
¹² Your "Album Archive": https://get.google.com/albumarchive/
¹³ Google's support page describing what G Suite is: https://support.google.com/a/topic/4425947
¹⁴ Google's support page with more details for G Suite customers: https://support.google.com/a/answer/9229693
¹⁵ Google's support page about Google+ Pages: https://support.google.com/plus/answer/1710600
¹⁶ Google's support page about Brand Accounts: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/7001996
¹⁷ Google's Developers Quick Migration Guide for Google Sign-In: https://developers.google.com/identity/sign-in/web/quick-migration-guide/
¹⁸ Google's Developers documentation for Google Sign-In / Identity: https://developers.google.com/identity/
¹⁹ Google's Developers support documentation for Google+ Integration for Mobile Apps: https://developers.google.com/+/mobile/android
²⁰ Google's Developers documentation regarding the deprecated Google+ Sign-In system: https://developers.google.com/+/web/signin/
²¹ Google's Developers documentation regarding the Google Play Services Public Beta Program: https://developers.google.com/android/guides/beta-program
²² Google's Developers documentation regarding the Google Play Services Public Beta Program, and specifically how to leave it to avoid interruptions: https://developers.google.com/android/guides/beta-program#leave_the_beta_program_using_the_opt-out_url_recommended
²³ Official Google+ Help Community on Google+: https://plus.google.com/communities/115758385206378551362
https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9195133
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