8 ms·

> Google Search is currently expanding the test of a "forums" filter that lets you browse through results from sites with human discussion, like Reddit Yeah, a

> Google Search is currently expanding the test of a "forums" filter that lets you browse through results from sites with human discussion, like Reddit Yeah, about that whole "human discussion" thing...

lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago
I think Reddit is accurately described as a site "with human discussion". It's another matter whether such discussion is organic and actually shows up in search results.
- 0ckpuppet 3y ago
  Is that like the taco bell meat that "contains" some meat.
salt-thrower 3y ago
Fair point that a lot of Reddit is already astroturfed, but this is definitely the final nail in the coffin. Now SEO is coming for the forums, too. Wonderful.
- jimbob45 3y ago
  In fairness, Reddit's built-in search works well enough that I could still find stuff on Reddit if Google croaked tomorrow.
  - Scoundreller 3y ago
    Reddit search works effectively for you? I usually resort to using Google to search reddit.
    - SV_BubbleTime 3y ago
      I always search: xyz site:Reddit.com And never use the internal search, I don’t know what gp is talking about. Reddit’s search is terrible.
  - jprete 3y ago
    I think the idea is that if Google makes it easier to find human-authored content on Reddit, astroturfers and other spammers will have even more reason to post there.
p1mrx 3y ago
Didn't Google have a "forums" filter like 20 years ago? I can't seem to find results pages on archive.org.
- whycome 3y ago
  You may be thinking of the Gmail default sorted inboxes
  - quadrature 3y ago
    nope, google had a discussions tab in search. Looked something like this https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/discussions.png https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/discussion...
- silisili 3y ago
  It was called discussions search, and showed up in the suggestion bar with images and whatnot. I was beyond mad when they removed it. Everything's a circle.
malfist 3y ago
If you want that now, kagi has a forums lens
A_D_E_P_T 3y ago
Hah. In fairness, PR firms, digital marketers, "reputation management" experts, and SEO gurus are "human" too. These days at least 90% of product-related discussions on Reddit are astroturfed, though, and that's for sure. The main problem, among many others, is that it's far too easy to game the upvote/downvote system with bots, and most pros have bot networks of their own, or know how to hire them. The second problem is that Reddit "karma" is site-wide, which means that most "high karma" accounts that are sold on secondary markets are very useful for digital marketing purposes generally. The third problem... well... I could go on all day. Reddit's system is horrendous if you're looking for human discussion and unbiased advice.
digging 3y ago
Kagi already has such a filter by default, although I've never tested it.

lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago

I think Reddit is accurately described as a site "with human discussion". It's another matter whether such discussion is organic and actually shows up in search results.

0ckpuppet 3y ago
Is that like the taco bell meat that "contains" some meat.

salt-thrower 3y ago

Fair point that a lot of Reddit is already astroturfed, but this is definitely the final nail in the coffin. Now SEO is coming for the forums, too. Wonderful.

jimbob45 3y ago
In fairness, Reddit's built-in search works well enough that I could still find stuff on Reddit if Google croaked tomorrow.
- Scoundreller 3y ago
  Reddit search works effectively for you? I usually resort to using Google to search reddit.
  - SV_BubbleTime 3y ago
    I always search: xyz site:Reddit.com And never use the internal search, I don’t know what gp is talking about. Reddit’s search is terrible.
- jprete 3y ago
  I think the idea is that if Google makes it easier to find human-authored content on Reddit, astroturfers and other spammers will have even more reason to post there.

p1mrx 3y ago

Didn't Google have a "forums" filter like 20 years ago? I can't seem to find results pages on archive.org.

whycome 3y ago
You may be thinking of the Gmail default sorted inboxes
- quadrature 3y ago
  nope, google had a discussions tab in search. Looked something like this https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/discussions.png https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/discussion...
silisili 3y ago
It was called discussions search, and showed up in the suggestion bar with images and whatnot. I was beyond mad when they removed it. Everything's a circle.

malfist 3y ago

If you want that now, kagi has a forums lens

A_D_E_P_T 3y ago

Hah. In fairness, PR firms, digital marketers, "reputation management" experts, and SEO gurus are "human" too. These days at least 90% of product-related discussions on Reddit are astroturfed, though, and that's for sure. The main problem, among many others, is that it's far too easy to game the upvote/downvote system with bots, and most pros have bot networks of their own, or know how to hire them. The second problem is that Reddit "karma" is site-wide, which means that most "high karma" accounts that are sold on secondary markets are very useful for digital marketing purposes generally. The third problem... well... I could go on all day. Reddit's system is horrendous if you're looking for human discussion and unbiased advice.

digging 3y ago

Kagi already has such a filter by default, although I've never tested it.