I think this may have less to do with the fulfillment of a long term Google+ type social strategy and more of a reaction to the explosive growth of communicatio

I think this may have less to do with the fulfillment of a long term Google+ type social strategy and more of a reaction to the explosive growth of communication apps like WhatsApp, Wechat, and Line. These apps have grown to critical mass and can use their positions to grow into full blow threats to anyone with significant market share in social.