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While conducting a Google search last night I came across this result entry:

googlesearchresultsfromsocialconnection

I caught the word BETA as I scanned the results page and then as I paid closer attention to it I saw that phrase that indicated this was a result from someone in my social circle. 

First time I have seen or read about this but apparently it has been in beta for a while as it was talked about by Google in October 2009 and January 2010.

Here is the info Google provides when you click on the My social circle – My social content links:

Social Content

Google social search helps you find relevant public Web content from people in your social circle when you are signed in to your Google Account. If you are in someone’s social circle, your public content may appear in their social search results.

You can improve social search results for your friends and contacts by linking to content you have created such as blogs, photos and videos on your Google profile. Links that appear on your Google profile will be used to extend your social circle and to discover social content.

This is a recent snapshot of your public web content. Changes you make to your content will be reflected in the next snapshot. Learn more »

Social Circle

This is the network of connections Google uses to identify relevant social search results. It is based on a combination of the following:

  • Direct connections from your Google chat buddies and contacts (3, 1 with content)
  • Direct connections from links that appear on your Google profile (0)
  • Secondary connections (531) that are publicly associated with your direct connections

In addition to web pages from your social circle, posts from your Google Reader subscriptions may also appear in your social search results.

This is a recent snapshot of your social circle. Changes you make to your connections will be reflected in the next snapshot. Learn more »

I have been signed into my Google account over the last 10 months but have never seen a socially connected result.  I guess this depends on how big your social circle is on Google for it to work.