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

submitted 9 months ago by ijeff@lemdro.id to c/technology@beehaw.org

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Google may be altering billions of search queries daily to generate results that increase purchases.

Testimony in an antitrust case revealed an internal Google slide about changes to its search algorithm, involving "semantic matching" to generate more commercial results.

Google covertly changes user queries, substituting them with ones that generate more revenue for the company and display shopping-oriented results.

This manipulation benefits Google's profits but harms search quality and raises advertiser costs.

Despite legal challenges, Google's market dominance allows it to continue these practices, impacting users' ability to access unbiased information.

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[-] Unsustainable 3 points 9 months ago

Do people still use Google search? Maybe I don't get out much, but idk anyone that uses Google search.

[-] ijeff@lemdro.id 8 points 9 months ago

What do folks in your circle use? I'm the only person I know IRL who sometimes doesn't use Google.

[-] Unsustainable 4 points 9 months ago

I mainly use Searx, MetaGer, and DDG. Most of the people I know are not fans of Google. I'm a little more privacy conscious than most of my friends, though. Most of them have FB and IG accounts. I don't post anything on social media unless it's as anonymous as it can be.