this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2023
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How Google Alters Search Queries to Get at Your Wallet - WIRED (www.wired.com)
submitted 1 year ago by ijeff@lemdro.id to c/technology@beehaw.org
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cross-posted from !google@lemdro.id

  • 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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[–] YuzuDrink@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I really need to try them and see how many searches I actually use. Even their higher paid tiers seem like way too few searches to me. But I have no actual idea.

[–] dan@upvote.au 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I would have agreed in the past, but they have an unlimited plan for $10/month now, which is why I'm more interested.

[–] blindsight@beehaw.org 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I get that search is expensive to run, but $120 USD/yr is a lot.

Maybe it's worth cancelling something to pay for it, but idk. I won't even look at metered tiers. Knowing my scarcity aversion, I'd never use it. I didn't use a single Neeva trial search since I was hoarding them like Max Ethers from Final Fantasy.

[–] acastcandream@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago

That's $120/yr is worth less to me than my privacy and desire to decouple from google tbh

[–] dan@upvote.au 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah. It's definitely expensive, which is why I haven't signed up for a subscription yet. Still thinking about it.