Google expanded its social offerings Wednesday with "+1" - a feature that lets you recommend certain Web sites with the click of a button, much like you might "like" something on Facebook.
Pronounced "plus one," the service will add a small "+1" icon next to search results. If you enjoy a particular site's content, click the icon and when someone in your network searches for something similar, your +1 will show up in their results ("Chloe Albanesius +1'd this").
"The beauty of +1's is their relevance—you get the right recommendations (because they come from people who matter to you), at the right time (when you are actually looking for information about that topic) and in the right format (your search results)," Rob Spiro, a Google product manager, wrote in a blog post.
To activate, you must have a Google profile, where you can view all your +1 activity and delete sites you no longer recommend. At this point, +1 recommendations will be linked via Google connections like chat buddies and contacts, but Google is also considering links via outside sites like Twitter.
Google is slowly rolling out +1, starting with English on Google.com. Soon, the company will allow opt-ins via its experimental search site.
"Initially, +1's will appear alongside search results and ads, but in the weeks ahead they'll appear in many more places (including other Google products and sites across the web)," Spiro wrote.
Facebook added the "like" option in April 2010, which replaced "Become a fan."
Earlier today the Federal Trade Commission announced a settlement with Google regarding its Buzz social-networking service that requires the search giant to develop a comprehensive privacy program and submit to regular audits of its privacy policies. Specifically, Google will be subject to independent privacy audits every two years for the next 20 years. The company is also banned from misrepresenting the privacy of its customers's data, and must obtain consent before sharing user information with third parties.