So, Those Imperious Google folk have come up with yet another product to help the internet get along. Only this time, they’re kind of hijacking one of the most valuable and Googlejuicy aspects of having a website or blog: the comment thread.
Of course, others have tried to do this before, namely the Third Voice – but with little success. The Sidewiki is a tool that can forms part of the Google toolbar, and allows comments to be posted on any page on the net. As it floats above pages as opposed to being in it, no webmaster can opt out. The only saving grace for the webmaster is the fact that he or she can control the top comment (via Google Webmaster).
Many blogs and sites have been relying on comment threads to add pagerank to their pages; when the Google algorithm sees lots of non-spammy comments appearing, it thinks the page is more valuable. Now though, Google seem to be trying to control comments too – and have a highly complex algorithm which judges if a comment is worthy of being posted on Sidewiki.
Having only a few comments might not be enough to activate the Sidewiki as a viewable resource; but if enough high quality comments are made, then they become viewable. The aim is to create a high quality web annotation service, but many will see this as Google muscling in on an area that gives them too much control; after all, Google is surely about letting the internet grow naturally, rather than harnessing every aspect for their own financial gain?
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