Google +1 is here, and it is a Facebook competitor

Google has launched "+1",  a competing feature to Facebook's "Like", in the web-content ranking category. Tech-Site NewsGrange has doubts how popular this service will become, without a social network to be the target of this ranking.
My first thoughts were similar. It seemed like Google has launched this service despite its failure in the social networks field, out of despair, fearing to lose further ground to Facebook. But at a second glance, It might be a very smart move. Users may find the "+1" symbol more appealing for one or more of the following reasons -

• the power and appeal of the Google brand over users; 
• learned habits from other Google tools, like Youtube;
• "+1" being more intuitive than "like";
• Not wanting one's social network to be updated in every aspect of my life, but wishing to notify the world I "Liked something" so that more "somethings" of this category shall be made; 
• "+1" and "Like" being services that enable a user to bookmark content he liked, for personal use; 
• the random nature of user behavior;
• the power and appeal of Google over the people who make web-content; 

And if "+1" gets popular enough (and popular does not mean dominant at its first stage of life. Just large enough to be considered having a market share that shouldn't be ignored by greedy advertisers), it might just turn out that those Input gadgets are just as desirable in the eyes of social networks, as the content of social networks is desirable in the eyes of advertisers... 

The last point to remember, in my mind, is that "+1" and "Like" are not relevant only to Social Networks, but to any virtual space where people have virtual Identities.

So, taking everything into account, my personal estimate is that "+1" is going to give Facebook's "Like" a good run for its money. It might even win the race, without a Social Network standing behind its back.

Now all that remains is to wait and see if I'm right, or if another hat will be added to one of my meals...