I use google search extensively for finding web sites related to individuals and places in my genealogy research, the inclusion of such terms as 'family', ' genealogy', 'history' etc narrow such searches to more suitable results. I also use Advanced Search to search within a site that does not have a good search engine included, this can help greatly in larger sites. Google books also will bring up many historical documents unavailable elsewhere and I have found several references and details about my ancestors via such methods. I generally do not use those 'pay for' sites due to my reluctance to give financial information on line but such sites as Find My Past that have an advanced search can be 'manipulated' by changing the search criteria to reveal much of their content. Takes a little longer but most of the information can be found and viewed this way. The original inquiry was about using google+ (google plus) which seems to be yet another 'social networking' site and apparently requires submitting personal information to join something which we should avoid where ever possible. Such sites may be useful for interaction between individuals on a common subject, such as genealogy, but I fail to see how it can help more than say the Rootsweb Message Boards with actual research and inquires. But then I do not subscribe to ANY social networks! Don R The Rawls of Dorset

Google+ is "Facebook by Google". Hopefully without all the issues there are when using Facebook. If you have an extended family and wanted to set up some kind of family group to share and collaborate it could be a good idea. There are already so many surname lists and query boards for just blind search and share it seems a waste to set up another. As for submitting personal information to a website, all I can say is that there is already plenty of information available if someone is willing to do the work to get it. The information that you might have to submit to Google+ isn't going to make much difference. -- “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government lest it come to dominate our lives and interests”. - Patrick Henry - _ _... ..._ _ _._ ._ ..... ._.. ... .._