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Am I the only one who thinks that Google is getting off easy? When it comes to 1) tracking people and 2) contributing to the perverse incentives which are trans

by zapita 9y ago

Am I the only one who thinks that Google is getting off easy? When it comes to 1) tracking people and 2) contributing to the perverse incentives which are transforming the media industry into an enemy of democracy, I think of Google and Facebook as equally guilty and toxic. Yet Google seems to get only a fraction of the negative coverage, both in the press and in the tech community. Why is that?

devwinportable 9y ago
because... not many people use Google+? sorry.
- zapita 9y ago
  But many people use Google Search, Maps, Mail, Analytics... And of course the endless tentacles of Adsense, Adwords, Recaptcha, Doubleclick. In my opinion the reach of Google, and therefore their ability to cause harm, is even greater than Facebook's, and beyond the veneer of perceived benevolence they are just as unethical.
  - John_KZ 9y ago
    The reason Google isn't getting much backlash is because they played their cards right. They're much more discreet, their ads look like any other ad except for the tiny adsense symbol, they give the appearance of a free, open search engine etc etc. How many people know that the search suggestions don't really reflect the most popular terms? How many know that Google will go through your emails to pick up information about you? How many know that they actively derank websites, essentially deleting them off the internet, based on political choices? It's also quite possible that people aren't aware of critisism against Google simply because Google chooses to hide it. They're that powerful right now.
- dredmorbius 9y ago
  This is true. I've measured it. But Youtube's MUA is, IIRC, above Facebook's. That's Google's real social app.
deltron3030 9y ago
Google is seen as progressive institution, and that's also how the majority of the media classifies itself I'd say. Their core audience is more techy as well and cares about information. Facebook is more on the populist side of things, their core audience are common people focused on maximizing their reputation. It also reflects their core businesses, Googles ad business centeres more about search and information, and Facebook more about persuation, and call to action.
- klez 9y ago
  > Their core audience is more techy as well and cares about information. Why do you think so? Google having ~80% of search traffic seems to suggest otherwise. I mean, everyone I know is using Google, including my grandfather who is not a "techy". EDIT: forgot a word
  - deltron3030 9y ago
    Core audience means people who know how to search and dig out the information they want to find. Not everybody using search knows how to do that, or search for keywords before they start their main search.
    - klez 9y ago
      > audience means people who know how to search and dig out the information they want to find. That's a weird definition IMHO. I would say that Google's core audience is regular people using the search engine. Maybe you meant "power users" instead?
superkuh 9y ago
What does the word "toxic" mean to you in this context specifically? There are so many takes...
chb 9y ago
Perhaps this question is naive, but other than biasing what information people are shown via their search engine, could you mention concrete instances of Google "contributing to the perverse incentives which are transforming the media industry into an enemy of democracy"?

by zapita 9y ago

devwinportable 9y ago

because... not many people use Google+? sorry.

zapita 9y ago
But many people use Google Search, Maps, Mail, Analytics... And of course the endless tentacles of Adsense, Adwords, Recaptcha, Doubleclick. In my opinion the reach of Google, and therefore their ability to cause harm, is even greater than Facebook's, and beyond the veneer of perceived benevolence they are just as unethical.
- John_KZ 9y ago
  The reason Google isn't getting much backlash is because they played their cards right. They're much more discreet, their ads look like any other ad except for the tiny adsense symbol, they give the appearance of a free, open search engine etc etc. How many people know that the search suggestions don't really reflect the most popular terms? How many know that Google will go through your emails to pick up information about you? How many know that they actively derank websites, essentially deleting them off the internet, based on political choices? It's also quite possible that people aren't aware of critisism against Google simply because Google chooses to hide it. They're that powerful right now.
dredmorbius 9y ago
This is true. I've measured it. But Youtube's MUA is, IIRC, above Facebook's. That's Google's real social app.

deltron3030 9y ago

Google is seen as progressive institution, and that's also how the majority of the media classifies itself I'd say. Their core audience is more techy as well and cares about information. Facebook is more on the populist side of things, their core audience are common people focused on maximizing their reputation. It also reflects their core businesses, Googles ad business centeres more about search and information, and Facebook more about persuation, and call to action.

klez 9y ago
> Their core audience is more techy as well and cares about information. Why do you think so? Google having ~80% of search traffic seems to suggest otherwise. I mean, everyone I know is using Google, including my grandfather who is not a "techy". EDIT: forgot a word
- deltron3030 9y ago
  Core audience means people who know how to search and dig out the information they want to find. Not everybody using search knows how to do that, or search for keywords before they start their main search.
  - klez 9y ago
    > audience means people who know how to search and dig out the information they want to find. That's a weird definition IMHO. I would say that Google's core audience is regular people using the search engine. Maybe you meant "power users" instead?

superkuh 9y ago

What does the word "toxic" mean to you in this context specifically? There are so many takes...

chb 9y ago

Perhaps this question is naive, but other than biasing what information people are shown via their search engine, could you mention concrete instances of Google "contributing to the perverse incentives which are transforming the media industry into an enemy of democracy"?