Do you trust google search results?

1. 78

   jackclee lmposted 8 years ago

   Do you trust google search results?
   
   What level of confidence do you have of google searches on a scale of 1-10 (1 least, 10 most) ?

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2. 60

   kbdressmanposted 8 years ago

   Depends on what I'm looking for.  Search results are only as good as the materials being searched and as good as the search term used.  Google is happy to serve up what's popular.  They have the best chance of pleasing people themselves and making money that way.  However, just because something is popular, doesn't mean it's true, accurate or complete.   And, google can't serve up articles that haven't been written.  The internet has a lot of information, but there's still a lot for scientists to figure out as well.  Until someone uploads information onto the web, google searches can't retrieve that information.
   
   It's also important to remember that google is a company that is out for their own profits.  Luckily those profits are usually tied to the internet user getting what they want or to connecting two internet users in a mutually beneficial relationship.  However, google's loyalty can be bought as well as anyone else's.  Sometimes using more than one search engine to research something can provide a more complete picture.   
   
   
   Sometimes google's efforts to please the user are a bug, not a feature.  In some circumstances, google analyzes what you've clicked on before in order to determine what to display for you.  This can lead to only being shown a very limited or biased range of news articles if you use google news for your news.  (For this reason I suggest browsing the news in an incognito tab so you reduce at least 1 form of bias).
   
   Long story short, I trust google to do it's job for the most part, but try to keep sources of bias and ways I can reduce that bias in mind.

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   1. 78

      jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      What about this latest controversy -
      http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news … /85648838/

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3. 64

   Matthew Woolseyposted 8 years ago

   You can't fully on any search engines, but if you can find the publisher and they are accredited you can trust them more than just a search result.

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4. 0

   Cissy1946posted 8 years ago

   That's an interesting question and one I hadn't actually put into words until I saw it. My answer is not any longer. When I first started using Google as my search engine I thought I got solid relevant results. Now it seems to give me as much garbage as legitimate information.
   
   My rating: 5

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   1. 78

      jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I think a 5 is a good estimate for now. Recent events regarding google is very troubling... I have compiled a list of links in my hub - google doodle politics. The question for most people is when will they reach the tipping point?

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5. 71

   chefmancaveposted 8 years ago

   "Trust" is a tricky word here. To begin with, I use Google to point me in the right direction. In that sense, I absolutely "trust" Google results.
   
   However, if you are asking me if I believe the search results are accurate, then my answer would be "I don't care" as long as the search results point me in the right direction.
   
   Somehow though, I think you are interested in a more definitive answer. Google has revolutionized the ability of billions of people to search for valuable information. To accomplish this feat, Google has created a search engine that can easily be judged as unscrupulous, manipulative, and prejudicial. For myself, I choose to focus on Google's fundamental accomplishment of ushering in the Information Age.
   
   My level of confidence: 10

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   1. 78

      jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Would your opinion change if you discover that Google is modifying your personal search results either to sale you something or to influence your opinion possibly effect the result of an election?
      That is exactly what is happening...

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   2. 78

      jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      What if it brain wash you into support for some causes you might not have an opinion? Like voting for Hillary Clinton for President?
      Or support of open borders or support for gun control...
      The list is endless and you may not even know it.

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   3. 71

      chefmancaveposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, your arguments have validity but they do not account for the positive side of information. I searched for "cucumber stirfry" and found 3 excellent ways of including cucumbers into a stirfry recipe. Where is the manipulation in this example?

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   4. 78

      jackclee lmposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      You are right. I use google for many things. I am just more aware of certain things that may be biased. It comes from a suspicion that the google company is more than just interested in making money for their shareholders. It is more...

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