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How Google Alters Search Queries to Get at Your Wallet (www.wired.com)

submitted 11 months ago by psychothumbs@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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[–] billiam0202@lemmy.world 70 points 11 months ago (3 children)

I've said (and read) it before: the concept of a great search engine is exactly at odds with advertising. A good search engine gives accurate results fast, while the purpose of advertising is to show users what advertisers pay to show them. In other words, it's the difference between showing users what they want to see, versus showing users what advertisers want them to see.

Google knows that the more irrelevant results it returns, the longer you spend looking, which translates into more opportunities to show ads.

[–] bernieecclestoned@sh.itjust.works 16 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

I've just done the same search as in the article on Chrome, Firefox and DuckDuckGo

Google served 5 ads before showing me M&S' website

DDG showed me an ad for Temu then M&S' website

Firefox showed me no ad, thanks ublock, and straight to M&S' website

[–] tb_@lemmy.world 25 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Firefox isn't a search engine, though?

[–] bernieecclestoned@sh.itjust.works 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Good point

[–] Very_Bad_Janet@kbin.social 9 points 11 months ago (1 children)

What search engine were you using on FF?

[–] bernieecclestoned@sh.itjust.works 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Google but with ublock and ghostery

[–] MyPornAlt@lemmynsfw.com 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

UblockOrigin recommends against using ghostery.

[–] bernieecclestoned@sh.itjust.works 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I like ghostery's handling of cookie banners though...

Edit. Oh, the easy list thing does that anyway. Thanks

Edit 2. Ghostery is better at cookie popups

[–] GeekyNerdyNerd@sh.itjust.works 9 points 11 months ago

Google knows that the more irrelevant results it returns, the longer you spend looking, which translates into more opportunities to show ads.

Which is ironic, as Google only managed to get as far as they did by doing the exact opposite in an era where Alta Vista and the small handful of other OG search engines were focused on maximizing revenue via ads.

Google has become that which they sought to destroy.

[–] Gyrolemmy@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

If its free you are the product.

[–] MyPornAlt@lemmynsfw.com 5 points 11 months ago

And if you pay for it, you’re still the product…. Because it’s 2023 and fuck the consumers.