Google Buzz: No more ‘automatic’ following

Search giant says it's ‘sorry’ for upset caused by social networking program

Google made further changes to Buzz over the weekend, saying "instead of an auto-follow model in which Buzz automatically sets you up to follow the people you e-mail and chat with most," they're changing to an "auto-suggest" model that lets the user decide who to follow. View related photos

By Suzanne Choney msnbc.com updated 5:00 p.m. ET Feb. 15, 2010 For the second time in a week, Google announced major changes to its controversial social media program Buzz, including those that will give users more control over what information is shared. The company also apologized for "not getting everything quite right" with the program's release a week ago. Buzz is part of the popular Gmail e-mail program, and many users have been outraged by Buzz' invasive nature. Google said it will now "suggest" people for users to "follow" electronically, rather than telling users to "auto-follow" those who are e-mail and chat contacts, said Todd Jackson, Google's product manager for both Buzz and Gmail in a blog posting Saturday.