Google is killing off Google Spaces, its experimental social networking/group messaging app. We're guessing you've never actually heard of Google Spaces before today. Which means this news is likely to elicit nothing but a shrug of the shoulders from a select band of Google diehards.

Google has a habit of killing off products and services. Google Reader is probably the most memorable, while Showtimes is the most recent. There are too many dead Google products and services to mention here, but it's fair to say Google is merciless when it comes to pruning failures.

Clearing Out the Dead Wood

The latest victim of this culture of clearing out the dead wood is Google Spaces. Google launched Spaces in May 2016 as yet another attempt to muscle in on the social networking space. Just like Google+, Google Spaces failed to take off in a big way, so it's now being shuttered.

Google Spaces was a group messaging app designed to help you discuss specific topics with like-minded individuals. It had Chrome, Search, and YouTube baked into it to help you share content without ever leaving the app. And it was available on Android, on iOS, and the web.

Google is shutting Google Spaces on April 17, 2017, at which point all Spaces and their content will be deleted. From March 3 until April 17, Google Spaces will be available in read-only mode. During this period you can see, save, or print your content, or delete your content and Spaces.

Google says it will "use what we’ve learned to improve other Google products and services".

The Short Life of Google Spaces

The death of a Google product usually elicits complaints from people who use said product. However, no one seems particularly bothered about the death of Google Spaces. We actually wrote a whole article explaining why you need Google Spaces in your life, but it turns out no one really did. Including Google itself.

Do you currently use Google Spaces? If so, how do you feel about Google killing it off? What messaging app will you use instead? If not, have you even ever heard of Google Spaces? Or is this the first time you've seen its name in print? Please let us know in the comments below!