How Google Alters Search Queries to Get at Your Wallet

Comments

• Tibert@jlai.lu ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

  This is worse than what the title says. It doesn’t after the search results. It changes the search terms you inputed.

  It completely deletes what you put, to replace it (without anyone noticing it) with similar search words, but to get money from a brand or make you buy from that brand.

  And when you buy or click on links, Google makes money because advertising and partnership.

  Say you search for “children’s clothing.” Google converts it, without your knowledge, to a search for “NIKOLAI-brand kidswear,” making a behind-the-scenes substitution of your actual query with a different query that just happens to generate more money for the company

  First, the generated results to the latter query are more likely to be shopping-oriented, triggering your subsequent behavior much like the candy display at a grocery store’s checkout

  Second, that latter query will automatically generate the keyword ads placed on the search engine results page by stores like TJ Maxx, which pay Google every time you click on them. In short, it’s a guaranteed way to line Google’s pockets.

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• simulacra_simulacrum@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

  I never noticed this before, but trying a few random searches does generate links to purchase tangential items. Freaky yet unsurprising from Google.

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• avater@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

  use duckduck.com.

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  • DJDarren@thelemmy.club ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

    You mean duckduckgo.com?

    The first thing I change when I open up a new browser for the first time is change the default search from Google to DDG.

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    • Tibert@jlai.lu ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

      Don’t use duckduck.com it may not lead to the expected result.

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    • avater@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

      for fucks sake this damn autocorrect. sorry yeah of course I meant duckduckgo 😅

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  • EvilBit@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

    Yeah that’s a no-go for me.

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  • joseangel@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

    StarPage and Brave Search is also good.

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• Steve@communick.news ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

  Use Kagi

  The only way to be sure your search is working for you and not advertisers, is to be the one that pays for it.

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