Should Google Launch a Social Network?

You are a Product Manager at Google. The CEO asks you to prepare a recommendation on whether Google should launch a new consumer social-network product to compete directly with Facebook/Meta. Your task is to deliver a structured go/no-go decision backed by data, strategic analysis, and an execution roadmap. In particular you must: (1) size the total addressable market and Google’s obtainable share; (2) identify the single biggest network-effect barrier Google would face and how to overcome it; (3) list the top three strategic benefits to Google’s broader ecosystem if the product succeeds; (4) outline the minimal viable feature set for launch and the 18-month growth plan; (5) estimate the required investment (head-count, marketing, infra) and expected 5-year revenue impact; (6) define clear success metrics at 6, 12, and 24 months; and (7) summarize the top three risks and corresponding mitigations. You have 45 minutes to walk the interviewer through your recommendation and answer follow-ups on competitive response, privacy concerns, regulatory scrutiny, and monetization trade-offs.