I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the net

**DaBackpack** · 08-26-2018, 05:27 AM

Re: I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the n

Originally posted by melonpapes

I can't be the only one who notices the sharp decline in google search results quality, as well as their automated algorithms "predicting" behaviour being absolute dog shit. It seems like after they got in all kinds of hot water for "promoting" controversial search results and "Fake news", they cranked the liberal bias on their search so that if it so much as THINKS you are searching for a divisive or controversial topic, it hits you with a bunch of articles trying to sway you the other way.

For example, an example that stuck with me that I sent to my friend was results for a search "'"Terrorist attack statistics divided by religion'". The results that come back are "Muslims are not terrorists" and "white men in america are bigger domestic threats than muslims", when all I was looking for was empirical evidence and real stats and research papers to further my own research. Instead, I got answers to a question I did not ask, as if to say my question was too taboo to point me to actual answers that might "confirm" a derogatory viewpoint.

This also happens on YouTube. Almost every time without fail when I put on music that isn't current top 40s radio hits, the "Up Next" algorithm ALWAYS provides me with "Boney M - Rasputin" as if I want to listen to that song every time I feel like listening to music.

Does anyone else remember when search engines gave you what you wanted, rather than what it thinks you want? Nowadays, you get all kinds of promoted links, links from Pinterest, or things that are vaguely related because of interchangeable terms. Even the most detailed, precised, Advanced Search gives you loads of ads, results with one of your words or even vaguely related or popular stuff instead of your exact phrase.

Maybe I'm just nostalgic for the old wild west days of the net gone by, but I really think with all the aggregates and portals like Reddit, Facebook, etc., the net has become a bunch of interconnected walled gardens rather than a vast bastion of information to be explored at your will.

Search engines never gave you what you want.

You have to remember that above all, Google and YouTube are advertisers. Predictive results makes perfect logical sense for them to this end. If they give you what they think you want, they are more likely to achieve retention than otherwise.

Part of the complaints you describe are all symptoms of the internet that we all helped create.

If you want sources about terrorism, go to Google Scholar and find cited sources. You might find some direct paper links. More likely the papers are behind a paywall, but at least now you have a direct citation you can Google and from there you can find interpretations that use that citation.

If you don't want personalized results, use incognito mode or a VPN. Part of Google's "account" system exists so they can build statistical models about your preferences. They might even track by IP, I don't know. But there are countermeasures to this.

I can't comment if the liberal bias is explicit or implicit --- it might simply be the fact that mainstream media skews liberal and these outlets are simply more likely to contain factual information or interpretations. Maybe Google thinks you're liberal and is giving you more resonant articles.

You (general you) could probably run a statistical analysis on Google search results to make a model of Google bias if you cared.

**DaBackpack** · 08-26-2018, 05:31 AM

Re: I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the n

Or use Bing.

**choof** · 08-26-2018, 07:13 AM

Re: I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the n

google absolutely tracks IP
use disconnect.me or duckduckgo

**gold stinger** · 08-26-2018, 08:03 AM

Re: I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the n

Now that you mention it I am pretty sick of Youtube still thinking that I would like to watch RayWilliamJohnson for my next video

**DossarLX ODI** · 08-26-2018, 08:08 AM

Re: I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the n

Going to what DaBackpack said, Google is a general purpose search engine. Google Scholar can help you locate research that you can cite for the statistics you're looking for about terrorism, and provide more filter criteria for more objective results.

Other sites such as Wikipedia can also help you start a search for more statistics by reading the Notes section. A helpful strategy is finding a page that lists several citations, and then you can find more citations from that (or other sources that may have more specific information you're looking for).

tl;dr you may need to use different tools depending on your situation.

**xXOpkillerXx** · 08-26-2018, 10:06 AM

Re: I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the n

Mfw using Google search engine for accurate research papers and statistics...

Other than the mentionned solutions (use actual research based engines, look for citations, etc), you Can use the normal engine but you have to use proper search queries (which sadly too many people dont know how).

**Arch0wl** · 08-26-2018, 10:18 AM

Re: I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the n

as I see it, there are two issues here:

1. personalized search results. these give you what the engine thinks you want, but it's ultimately toward the end of making you more satisfied with the results.

2. politicized results. these are what the search engine thinks you should be reading, such as the case with the terrorism link. it also scrubs links it thinks are politically or ideologically bad, for whatever reason.

one example of #2 was when you could search on spanish google for "american inventors" and receive one list, but if you googled the same term on english google you'd get a list that looked like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue-cbbVZkuY

personalized results are okay with me, as long as I can easily turn personalization off.

politicized results will never be okay with me.

**Funnygurl555** · 08-26-2018, 10:30 AM

Re: I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the n

if you wanna fuck with the recommendations other people get from google/amazon/other sites, when you're messaging them, add a word in white text. if this happens enough times then they'll start getting ads with that thing in white text. so like, maybe potato chips or a 2x4. or lube. these are all options

i made the thread about news source bias because facebook recommended me a political video that i agreed with, and then i realized that facebook knew my political leanings and i was like "oh im only gettng the info i wanna read"

not to call out a specific user or anything but arch0wl's feed on the other hand is full of stories that make me go "why is this important" "i've never heard about this" "why" and i suspect the same thing goes down with him

**Arch0wl** · 08-26-2018, 11:24 AM

Re: I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the n

I have a pretty easy time imaginging why the stuff on your feed is important to other people and am usually familiar with the issues

except when it's related to princeton and then I'm like [meme with black guy squinting and tons of question marks]

**Funnygurl555** · 08-26-2018, 11:28 AM

Re: I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the n

yeah that's because i'm cool and have a well-rounded opinion alfredo big mac

edit: it's funny how you like memes with black people in them given how white you are

**Arch0wl** · 08-26-2018, 11:43 AM

Re: I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the n

idk, black people are great at comedy

source: you

**Travis_Flesher** · 08-26-2018, 12:38 PM

Re: I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the n

**dadcop2** · 08-26-2018, 02:24 PM

Re: I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the n

search "white inventors" in images lmao

**Arch0wl** · 08-26-2018, 02:40 PM

Re: I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the n

uhhhhh

I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the net

I'm tired of Google's algorithms thinking they know what I want and ruining the net

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