Google Launches Pinterest-Like Google+ Collections

The Internet is a place where people can connect over shared passions and interests (like cats and babies), and Google hopes you will bond via its new Pinterest-like Google+ Collections.

Each collection is a focused set of posts on a particular topic—bread making, aerial photography, email marketing tips, renters solutions—that can be shared publicly, privately, or with a custom set of people.

Users can post photos or links, and add text—just like any other Google+ update. Only this time, the content will be housed inside a personalized folder. To get started, navigate to Collections from the Home drop-down menu, and tap "Create collection." Give it a name, change its visibility settings, and customize it with a background color and cover photo.

Google automatically adds a new tab to your profile page, directing visitors to your collections, which they can browse or choose to follow for more regular updates. New posts in those collections you follow will appear in your Google+ Home stream, with a link directing you to the full collection, with similar content from the curator.

Google+ Collections is available on Android and the Web; it will arrive on iOS at a later date. Android users must update the Google+ app to gain access to Collections.

The new program is already in use by sites like Apartment Therapy, BuzzFeed, and, of course, Google. But anyone is welcome to join the program, which covers everything from lemurs of Madagascar and South African food to Irish folk music and lizards in hats (seriously).

Stephanie Mlot