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Ask HN: HN Search has Google Analytics enabled, can it be removed?
HN Search (Algolia) has Google Analytics enabled it seems, which feels kind of deceptive considering the stripped down minimalism of the rest of site (that almost lulls you into thinking you can browse the site with js enabled).
Is it possible to have the algolia search that doesn't come with ga?
- drocer88 5y agoDoesn't having google services enhance your search results on google? It's probably too risky to de-google.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- fault1 5y agoSeems like it's not very risky for HN, no? How much SEO does it really require?
- iostream23 5y agoNo,that is explicitly untrue: https://plausible.io/blog/google-analytics-seo#what-does-google-say https://plausible.io/blog/google-analytics-seo#what-does-goo... Google says that they maintain separation between their ad business and the acquisition now known as google analytics
- dazc 5y agoMatt hasn't worked for Google for a long, long time.
- greenyoda 5y agoYou can remove it from all sites by installing the uBlock Origin browser extension (available for Firefox or Chrome) - it blocks Google Analytics and all sorts of other third-party trackers.
- bookaway 5y agoI am aware. HN is often touted to be running with a minimalist bare-bones tech stack. Found this aspect rather sad and bizarre. If you get caught out without a blocker, you could end up sending your search info to google in addition to algolia, no?
- brudgers 5y agoAlgolia is a YC company. [1] HN got search by outsourcing it to its engine. Before that, Google was the practical way to search HN. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7118496 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7118496 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7126301 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7126301 HN’s minimalism is the site itself. Part of that is not writing its own search engine…to a first approximation, its a fair bet it never would have made the top of the todo list. [1]: Algolia was established and had raised investment prior to YC.
- bookaway 5y ago>Algolia is a YC company. As I stated, I'm not bemoaning the use of algolia here (there's at least an icon to inform the user of its use). Only that Google Analytics is being used in addition to it. I would think in theory algolia being a YC company would make it easier to request a workaround without GA if algolia is the one using it. >Before that, Google was the practical way to search HN. In that case, the user would be explicitly made aware they were using google services I would think. That is not the case here.
- tedmiston 5y agoWhat's the point in removing GA from HN specifically when you still need uBlock Origin or similar to browse the greater interwebs? GA is present on a very high percentage of popular websites.
- floatingatoll 5y agoEmailing the mods using the footer Contact link will get a reply. This might not, if they don’t see it.