William Shatner’s Google+ account was suspended on Monday for reasons Google has declined to revealed. Luckily, the Star Trek star has since rematerialised on the site again after speculating on Twitter that it was his habit of saying “hello” to every new follower that got his page vaporised. He posted a Google+ update saying: “I am back plusers. I still do not know what happened but I will refrain from saying hello again for a while just in case. My best, Bill.”
If the comings and goings of Captain Kirk don’t interest you, we’ve tracked down 10 other celebrity Google+ users to follow. Since some have suggested it was doubts around Shatner’s identity that got him shoved off the social network, we’ve applied our ultra-scientific authenticity meter to each one…
1 Ashton Kutcher
The actor and tech investor is one of the most prominent celebrity Google+ users. His circles include Digg founder Kevin Rose and Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz. He’s been sharing different updates, photos and videos than on his hugely followed Twitter account but hasn’t posted anything on Google+ since 14 July.
Authenticity meter: 100%
Kutcher is a well-known earlier adopter but it looks like he may already be getting bored with Google+.
2 Kevin Smith
Another prolific Twitter user who appears to have taken the plunge and joined Google+, the Clerks director has only posted one status update so far. The message says Will Wilkins, who presents a podcast on the director’s work, invited him to join the social network.
Authenticity meter: 90%
While he hasn’t made much use of the site yet, the tone of Smith’s profile and the selection of photos in his gallery suggest the profile is legit.
3 Alyssa Milano
The actress and activist is already a prolific Google+ user sharing news stories and links and even confessing that she’s teaching her mother how to use the service. Her shared content ranges from promoting her brother’s music career to being baffled by the phone hacking scandal.
Authenticity meter: 100%
Milano has promoted her Google+ profile via her Twitter account and linked to articles about celebrity users of the service so we’re certain it’s her.
4 Trent Reznor
The Nine Inch Nails man and Oscar-winning soundtrack composer for The Social Network hasn’t done much with his Google+ profile yet besides announcing his presence and encouraging visitors to mock his apperance brandishing his Academy Award on a magazine cover.
Authenticity meter: 60%
The profile appears genuine but Reznor has made no reference to it elsewhere online. It uses the same profile picture as his Twitter account.
5 Mark Hoppus
The Blink 182 musician has dived right in to Google+ sharing old pictures of the band and a flurry of status updates. He’s also using his profile to post SoundCloud clips and take advantage of the Spotify US launch to share playlists.
Authenticity meter: 100%
He’s promoted his Google+ profile via his verified Twitter account and added pictures that weren’t previously publically available online.
6 Lady Gaga
Unsurprisingly numerous Lady Gaga profiles have popped up on Google+. This one seems to be the most official. So far it’s been reposting items from the singer’s official Facebook page and messages from her Twitter account.
Authenticity meter: 50%
While the account is only posting information also found at the singer’s other online outposts it’s still not clear whether the Haus of Gaga is running the Google+ page.
7 Pete Wentz
The second pop punk on our list, the Fall Out Boy bassist unsurpisingly includes touring buddy Mark Hoppus in his Google+ circles. He’s also been using his profile to hand out Spotify US invites and share snaps.
Authenticity meter: 80%
Posting private photos and drawing comments from none other than Myspace founder Tom Anderson, we’re pretty certain this Pete Wentz Google+ profile is the real deal.
8 Lance Armstrong
The seven time Tour De France winner has only briefly experimented with Google+. He joined up on 7 July and posted one other update on July 10 promoting a bike ride in Scotland which he also flagged up on Twitter.
Authenticity meter: 85%
Using a webcam snap as his profile picture, Armstrong also mentioned Google+ on Twitter around the time he appears to have joined the site so while he hasn’t done much with it, we’re fairly sure this is the cyclist’s official Google-branded home.
9 50 Cent
Another celebrity who seems to have toyed with Google+ before being distracted by other things, 50 Cent’s profile heavily promotes his own headphones line and includes the requisite photos of attractive women and piles of cash.
Authenticity meter: 60%
Though the profile features a lot less content than the rapper’s frequently updated Twitter and Facebook accounts, it certainly reads like them. The only people in 50 Cent’s circles are the new media director of his record company and fellow G-Unit member Lloyd Banks.
10 Mark Zuckerberg
The arrival of the Facebook CEO, a bona fide tech celebrity, to scope out the social network’s new rival caused a massive stir. He has yet to post anything despite becoming the most followed person on the site.
Authenticity meter: 100%
Zuckerberg confirmed he was behind the profile in a text to tech personality, Robert Scoble. Don’t expect him to actually use it any time soon though.
Have you spotted any other celebrities lurking on Google+? Let us know in the comments.
