Because “new, shiny!” I have managed to finagle an invitation to Google +. More than that, I’ve managed to actually join. There are brief windows each day when one can get in, apparently. As you might expect, Google is periodically overwhelmed and has to stop to let its servers catch their collective breath.

If you’ve already got a Google account signing up is simple: Log in and go. If not, I imagine you have to create that Google account first. Once you’ve done that you start adding your family, friends and acquaintances to various “circles.”

Google+ Circles helps you organize everyone according to your real-life social connections–say, ‘family,’ ‘work friends,’ ‘music buddies,’ and ‘alumni’. Then, you can share relevant content with the right people, and follow content posted by people you find interesting. For example, you might post an announcement about your engagement and show it only to people in your friends and family circles, or maybe you see a post from the circle you created for your book club that there’s a recent article on your favorite author.

That’s a little more limiting than Facebook, which is all to the good to my mind.

Join up! I have invitations to give, apparently, so if you need one let me know.