Google LLC has finally given a date for the closure of its failed Facebook competitor Google+: April 2.

Launched in June 2011, Google+ was Google’s last attempt to establish a social media network. The service did offer some unique features, though most of them were adapted from FriendFeed, a company Google acquired in 2009.

The demise of Google+, to which Google obstinately clung despite its clear failure years ago, came about at least ostensibly because of a data breach in October. The breach related to a vulnerability in data access when users grant permission to third parties via the Google+ application programming interface. Google initially claimed 500,000 Google+ accounts were exposed for a period of three years prior to the vulnerability’s detection.

In December, Google revised the figure, saying data relating to 52.5 million users had been “temporarily exposed.” Whether the data was stolen or simply made available is not clear. In Google’s words, third-party developers had access to “nonpublic information.” The data is believed to have included users’ full names, email addresses, birth dates, gender, profile photos, places lived, occupation and relationship status.

Notably, the shutdown only involves the consumer version of Google+, not the business version.

“While we bring consumer Google+ to a close, we are continuing our investment in Google+ for the enterprise,” David Conway, a product manager at Google, wrote in a blog post. “This means that for those of you who use Google+ as part of G Suite, your accounts will remain active. G Suite users include businesses who pay for its services and educational institutions and other organizations that use G Suite at no cost.”

For the few remaining Google+ members, starting February features including the ability to create Google+ profiles, pages, communities and events will be switched off.

Come April 2, all existing consumer Google+ accounts will be deleted. Users who wish to save content posted to Google+, including photographs, are advised to download their content before then.

Photo: jonrussell/Flickr