<< We've heard your feedback loud and clear, and since we launched Google Buzz four days ago, we've been working around the clock to address the concerns you've raised. Today, we wanted to let you know about a number of changes we'll be making over the next few days based on all the feedback we've received. >>

http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-buzz-start-up-experience-based-on.html

<< So starting this week, instead of an auto-follow model in which Buzz automatically sets you up to follow the people you email and chat with most, we're moving to an auto-suggest model. You won't be set up to follow anyone until you have reviewed the suggestions and clicked "Follow selected people and start using Buzz." >>

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JE4qNpFW6Yk/S3c5K4C8M0I/AAAAAAAAAeI/0rlaWcLLGrY/new_Buzz_startup.png

<< Second, Buzz will no longer connect your public Picasa Web Albums and Google Reader shared items automatically...

Third, we're adding a Buzz tab to Gmail Settings. From there, you'll be able to hide Buzz from Gmail or disable it completely. In addition, there will be a link to these settings from the initial start-up page so you can easily decide from the get go that you don't want to use Buzz at all. >>

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JE4qNpFW6Yk/S3c4mAP7w0I/AAAAAAAAAeA/JNZVbVgESjk/new_Buzz_settings.png

>> One setting I’m not sure is easy to find at the moment though is to disable yourself from showing in the “follows” lists of profiles of others... does anyone know more about this? I’ve heard this can be changed by the setting “Display my full name so I can be found in search” in your profile, but if that’s true then it doesn’t seem to be very obvious.

Yes, that's right. You need to uncheck that box to make your profile "not public" and then you won't be listed in the "followers" lists. And I agree, that is not very obvious at all...

>> Something else I’m not sure about is which settings exactly stop you to be suggested to others to be followed.

I don't think we currently have any control over this at all. The suggestions are from Google based on who you communicate with and I don't think we can do anything to not be on someone's suggested list.

These are good changes – if they'd made it this way from the start they've had avoided a lot of worried users and negative PR. The only thing that seems a shame is that Picasa & reader aren't included into the user's Buzz profiles by default anymore. If they're already there shouldn't be a problem, and it reduces the utility of Buzz a bit. Lots of the people I follow haven't bothered to attach their Picasa, Twitter etc feeds into Buzz, meaning that none of their stuff actually shows up! Perhaps Google could 'suggest' to users again to add these feeds? All around though, good changes.

mbegin – unchecking that box on the profile means that you can't use buzz. As soon as you try to post anything or comment on anything a pop up asks you to show your full name on your profile.

Just want to confirm what Sam above said: in the absence of a public profile you cannot post. Now, I do want to use buzz, but I do not want to have a public profile that my boss will be able to find. This is perhaps my only privacy issue with google buzz.

Saturdays's Gmail Blog entry was posted at
http://blogoscoped.com/forum/167498.html#id167772
too.

I keep finding the "Display my full name so I can be found in search" setting in my profile checked after I have un-checked it.

Also

http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2010/02/using-your-feedback-to-improve-buzz.html