If I would you if I were to google the same search terms as you , would my search results turn out to be the same as yours? The answer is no. The search engine used to provided the searches with the same words with the exact same results . Now search engines use algorithms that use 57 signals to create an individualized filter bubble.That means the search engine picks up on your past searches , your likes and dislikes and gives you different results based on that information in your new search.Therefore, search engine takes away our privacy by having all our information in check.We have no control of what exactly the search engine is sensitive to and what it discards.
The question that we have to answer is whether or not if the power of the search engines is a pro or a con the answer will depend on whom you ask this question to. Eli Pariser on Ted Talks and http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2011/jun/23/mind-control-and-internet/ say that the search engines being privy to so much of your information is not such a good thing.The argument being that the search engines take away too much of our civil liberties. For example,the web provides companies with a vast amount of data which they use as marketing devices . It is said that the web should have a code which tells on how on our information is being used just like a journalistic code.The government is also able to censor our information based on our searches. Also your searches are based on the information that is of interest to you not providing you with a wellspring of all types of information at hand.The web being individualized takes away from the democracy by disallowing all views to be seen.
On the flipside,http://www.wired.com/2011/04/st_thompson_homophily/ says that the web having so much of your information is a good thing. The web is good being individualized because it only picks out what you are truly interested in.The comparison being made is the web is offering you only what your close circle of friends have to offer to you is usually the best for you because they know your intrests best. However, he goes on to say that to continue with the comparison to have an assortment of friends to match various interests of that a person may have.
No search engine should filter ones search result, just because they search something different then someone else. Search engines shouldn't use your personal data to differ your search. Everyone should get the same results no matter what.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the way you brought up this topic, the layout of your writing made reading this much more interesting. Having the web links inside your blog post was also a creative thing to do, it made everything much more comprehensive. Search engines have too much control over what we are looking at, and something needs to be done to fix this.
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