Google unshackles users from mandatory Google+ accounts
Google has U-turned on its stance that people who use its services must sign up for an account on its social network Google+.
The first Google service to be unshackled from Google+ will be YouTube meaning users will no longer need a Google+ account to leave a comment below videos.
Bradley Horowitz, vice president of streams, photos and sharing, said: "People have told us that accessing all of their Google stuff with one account makes life a whole lot easier. But we’ve also heard that it doesn’t make sense for your Google+ profile to be your identity in all the other Google products you use.
“So in the coming months, a Google Account will be all you’ll need to share content, communicate with contacts, create a YouTube channel and more, all across Google.”
The removal of the service from Google tools will be gradual, over the coming months.
Additionally the firm will move many elements of Google+ Photos into the new Google Photos app, and is set on adding location sharing into Hangouts and its other apps.