[barredo]

Let me elaborate. Google.com it's the ultimate advertising resource in the Internet. Google+ is now being accused (i don't have an opinion, i don't have an account and I don't have the real numbers) of stagnation and Google just:

1) opens Google+ to everyone 2) makes this arrow

It is a cohesive move: You put an arrow because it's open and it's open because of the arrow.

But, giving the timming, one could think that someone at the C level at Google agreed to use 'the nuclear option'.

If that doesn't work for Google+, Google is out of options to push Google+ for good (it could run tv ads. but it won't, and it would be expensive and not really a good way to promote a social network).

Also, other people could find it confusing and reject the idea just because it's too "right on their face".

But, it could work super! That would be bold (because of the risks named above) and great for Google & Google+

[jrockway]

I don't think Google necessarily needs to get all their users in one day of viral goodness like most tiny startups do. They have pleny of time and money to burn through; look at how long Microsoft has lasted. Google can gradually integrate their other products with Google+ so that you don't even know you're using +. One day you'll want to share something, and you'll already be on a social network, and it will Just Work. (This is especially relevant with smartphones. Think about further refinements of the Camera app's "instant upload".)

Anyway, I see slow growth for Google+. Most people don't want "social networking", they want to share photos with their kids or share funny jokes with their coworkers. Google+ will gradually integrate itself with services people use for this sort of thing, and will replace it as the "Tumblr feed" model replaces email, IM, and SMS.