Google Play reviews will now integrate your Google+ profile

In an attempt to improve the quality of comments received on the Play Store, Google has made it necessary for users to post app and game reviews from their Google+ account. This will totally rid the store of anonymously posted reviews, making users attach their real names and associated data with the content they post.

Until now, reviews could be posted anonymously with nothing but a first name or nickname identifying the person posting them. This new requirement seems to be a step in the direction of total Google+ integration. All comments posted before Google+ integration was carried out will now be shown as written by ‘A Google User’ on all the Play Store reviews.

Google Play integrates Google+ Profiles for reviews

This feature has been rolled only on the Google Play website as of now and is sure to be making its way on to the Android app through an update. Google had faced issues in the past with bogus reviews and some that were pure gibberish. This is obviously an attempt in the path to creating a platform where there are reliable and authentic reviews for apps.

Only last week, YouTube had announced in a post that users will soon have the option to link their YouTube channel with their Google+ page. It said that it would now be possible for the user to set his or her channel name as his Google identity. The post also mentioned that the advanced Google+ page management features that allow up to 50 people to manage a single Google+ page, or one person to manage up to 50 Google+ pages, will work for channels that have been linked with Google+ pages. Google has been trying this option with Google Analytics, YouTube Creators, etc., and is planning to roll this feature out to all creators in the weeks to come. 

The necessity of Google to weave interaction on all their websites under Google+ has drawn mixed reviews. While Google claims this is an attempt to make connecting with the user’s audience simple, some have termed this a ‘devious’ method to get to use Google+.

The Apple Store has a username system that makes it difficult for users to post phony reviews. Even though Apple's attempt to go social had failed with Ping, Google+ might change the game altogether. What is important to remember here is that when you use a Google product, you have a profile already.

Google Play itself is now as large as the Apple Store with 700,000 apps listed, according to an announcement it made in October. The store too received an update (version number is 3.9.16) last month. The latest update allowed users to remove apps from the All Apps list, which records all app downloads to date, in addition to remembering locations in lists, and new icons for notifications and installed apps.

It seems like the fast growing Play Store is making standards stringent by driving out trolls and encouraging responsible reviewing while spurring the use of Google+. Talk about killing two birds with one stone!