While Facebook and Twitter do their darndest to reach the masses, Google+ is tapping into the heretofore unrealized market -- lazy Furries.
Or so it would seem.
Roleplaying members of the fandom of fictional anthropomorphic animal characters who can't be bothered to pop on a school mascot-style moose head or even a bunny ear headband now have more options via Google+ Hangouts. The social network nobody cares about recently rolled out a new set of facial effects for Google+ Hangouts -- the group video chat which allows up to 10 participants -- a virtual kitty face and doggie ears and muzzle among them. Forget cosplay conventions! You don't even need to leave the house.
Like the moustache effect and antlers already available via Google+ video plug-in, participants need only click an icon and the transformation is complete -- from where your friends are sitting anyway. Like magic (except you know, it's science), the effect or animal mask appears on your face, never leaving your countenance even as you move your head around. Other new effects include devil horns and an angel halo -- you know, if that's the thing you're into.
Obviously, we're extrapolating Google's intent with this fun new feature -- Google mentions nothing about the Furry fandom in the Google+ blog post announcing the latest masks, let alone Furries of a slothful nature. (Note: No sloth mask effects yet, anthropomorphic or otherwise.) But if that was the plan, it'd hardly be the worst idea to come from the search giant. (That distinction goes to, arguably, Google Buzz.)
Plenty of companies, tech or otherwise, rose to wealth and power serving the needs of a niche audience. And Furries without the time or energy (or air conditioning) to virtually hangout in the guise of their particular fandom is about as niche as it gets.
Helen A.S. Popkin goes blah blah blah about the Internet. Tell her to get a real job on Twitter and/or Facebook. Also, Google+, where she will not be wearing virtual bunny ears -- just real ones.
