Google is prepared to update its Gmail service with a new social networking feature that will be make it behave more like Facebook or Twitter. Is this what we want clogging our inboxes, or will it be too distracting for those who rely on Gmail day in and day out?Google has been making weak attempts at adding social networking to a number of its services in the last few months. Perhaps the one service it has done the most with is Google Reader, its RSS program. Users can follow one other, share news items, comment on them, and so on. It is rough around the edges at best, and given the number of trusted Gmail contacts I have, not used by very many.

Now, the Wall Street Journal reports that Google is going to take a different tack through perhaps its most-used service other than search: Gmail.

The Journal's sources indicate that Gmail will gain a way for users to share media and status updates with their Gmail contacts. The feature will be added to a new mailbox window where status updates and other contributions can be seen. Users will then be able to click through it to see more of the status updates and content.

Google will also add content from YouTube and Picasa, its video and picture-sharing services. Depending on how Google executes the service and changes within Gmail, it could revolutionize how people share content within their set of Gmail contacts. Or it could kill your inbox, become a major distraction and ruin productivity.

We won't know for sure until we try it out. Speaking of which, the Journal's sources indicate that Google could introduce the new feature as soon as this week. No word on if there will be a mobile component, and if it will be incorporated into Google's Android platform.