Now that Google has backed away from requiring new Gmail users to automatically sign up for Google+, analysts are wondering whether the company is giving up on its social network.

Earlier this month, Google stopped mandating a Google+ signup for new Gmail users, but the company denies the move has anything to do with its commitment to the network. Google+ has largely remained in Facebook’s shadow for all of its three years.

Google had required creation of a Google+ account for new Gmail users since December 2011.

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