If you’re a Gmail user then you’ve probably seen an automatic sign-up in your inbox for a new social network called Buzz.

But while the new site offers direct — and thereby easier — links to Google’s new photo uploading software Picasa, its newness and capabilities might still need addressing.

So, what is it and what can it do?

Buzz is a social network that is similar to Facebook or Twitter, except that it maps your social connections based on whom you correspond with via its umbrella program Gmail.

By clicking ‘Find people’, a pop-up box will show your top contacts and will let you choose to follow or ignore them. If these people have created profiles, you can click on their names and see their own brand of witty banter with friends on Buzz or their status messages added to Gmail or Twitter.

Simply put, it’s big on convergence, a route that Facebook had to take as soon as Twitter threatened its survival.

The downside, though, is that Buzz potentially exposes the identity of your e-mail correspondents. Bear in mind that like Twitter, the names of people you follow on Buzz — and who are following you — are public unless you take steps to make the list private.

That means there are steps you may take to make the postings viewable to the public, private or just a select group of contacts.

Like MSN Messenger and Facebook, you may block people from seeing your postings or select predefined groups like co-workers, family and friends.

To block individuals, simply click ‘Block’ beside their name on your follower list or on their profile. That will remove them from your list, keep your buzz out of their stream, stop them from commenting on your buzz and prevent them from re-following you.

You may also choose not to display your name, which will keep your profile from being found via search queries. However, it is important to point out that it will not disable the service entirely.

To delete your Buzz profile and any Buzz posts you’ve made and disable the service completely, scroll all the way to the bottom and click the link with the bright red writing. Remember to hit ‘Save changes’ before you exit.

Here, you may also add personal information that you do want to share and link your profile to other Google services, like Picasa and Reader, and to other services, like Flickr from Yahoo, or Twitter. And you can choose to let people contact you through Buzz without giving them your e-mail address.

Again, Buzz is another lesson in convergence and how that type of interface is changing the way we surf the Internet.

— RH