The Truth about Internet Search - Essay Example

 "Google, Democracy, and the Truth about Internet Search" by Carole Cadwalladr

Technology has made the world a global village. There are various search engines available for users who are willing to retrieve information from the internet. Google is the most used search engine, which records up to 5.6 billion searches a day (Carr 89-94). The statistics indicate that many people have shifted from conventional researching methods and embarked on using digital resources. (Carr 89-94). Google has customized its searches to suit the needs of internet users. However, the results that the search engine presents to the internet users are skeptical, which has prompted several researchers into questioning the credibility of the information that the internet provides (Carr 89-94). Since most people rely on Google search engines for information, there is a need to look into the credibility of the content that the search engine provides. The article, "Google, Democracy, and the Truth about Internet Search" critiques the manipulative nature of Google search engine and the impact that such information has on the users. This paper argues in favour of this article while proofing why the writer takes such a stand.

I use the internet to learn about the universe; however, I sometimes end up not getting enough because Google is misleading. In his article, Carole Cadwalladr laments how Google leads people into doing wrong. The revelation got me worried if I have been reading the wrong content online, all this while. The article describes the way Google has been customized to provide misleading information to unsuspecting internet users. She confirms that she tried to search on the internet at one point, something about the Jews, and what popped up is that the Jews were evil. She also writes that according to Jesus-is-saviour.com, "Judaism is Satanic!" This revelation shocked her because she believed that Google does not provide sensitive religious information like that. Another example of Google insensitivity comes when she tries to search for something to do with women using the Google search engine. The results shocked her because some of the results that popped up were saying that women are evil, prostitutes, and immoral. She then wonders why Google has to customize search findings to suit only the negatives about women. When the writer searched for information about Islamic religion, the results that popped up indicated that Islamic is a rebellious and radical religion. The writer discusses how Google uses fake news and fails to provide updated information for internet users. According to the writer, Google is manipulative and uses fake news to get users' attention for their benefits. She illustrates how Google provides false information through different media outlets to make internet users glued to the internet. Google uses artificial intelligence and advanced engineering to manipulate the brains of the users (Noble). She ends by saying that Google is used by influential people to propagate propaganda into the minds of the people, and in the long run, it is the Google Corporation that benefits. I spent too much time reading online news because I like being updated on the latest news. As the writer indicates that most communication is fake, I need to take precautions on how I use the internet.

 I use the internet to learn about people's faith. Google provides information that makes me skeptical about the world's faith. Google uses brain psychology to make money from internet users. They provide adverse results that make an individual eager to dwell more on the internet. When Carole Cadwalladr probes the consequences that Google provides for its users, she was shocked that Google directs people into a dirty mindset. When the results about the Jews said that Jews are evil, and Judaism was satanic, Carole Cadwalladr wrote to Google to seek clarification on such content because she felt that it was unethical. Google responded to her, telling her that the information that Google places on the internet is always accurate and never extreme. It is wrong for a trusted source to provide discriminative information.

To profile denominations is not right because it can lead to war. By saying that Jews are evil and Islamic is radical, propagates hate in the hearts of the people. Anything to do with religion should be treated with sensitivity because religion can bring war to the world (Carr, 89-94). Another search about the women revealed that every woman tends to be a prostitute. The claims are stereotypical because they profile women as immoral in society. Google needs to be sensitive and provide information that does not demean gender. The company has the mandate to filter the kind of information that web pages post online but does not do so, due to their vested interest. It is wrong for a technology company that promised world knowledge and information to provide dirty, inaccurate, and insensitive information regarding gender, religion, and politics. Because Google does not filter the kind of information it displays to its audience, social media end up providing inappropriate content. Some Internet users post information that is insensitive (Carr 89-94). Google knows that such information always brings anger in people, so they spend more time online expressing themselves. For instance, the Twitter post by entertainer Terry Crews, about black supremacy created a stir online when people became outrageous because of his outrageous remarks. Thousands of internet users commented on Terry Crews' tweet, which meant more money for Google Corporation and Twitter handle investors.

I spend so much time on the internet to socialize with people, but I feel that it is not the right thing to do. Often, my family complains that I spend too much time online, and rarely have time for them. In the Video, "Connected but Alone" Sherry Tackle explores the effect that spending too much time on the internet has on people's relationships People spend so much time on the internet, searching for relevant materials that interest them. Google knows how to get the attention of internet users (Vise). It provides information that would intrigue the internet user so that they spend so much time on the internet. And this is beneficial to the company because they earn from the traffic jam that internet users create while online. The reason why Google wants people to spend a lot of time on the internet is that they want to earn from internet users. It is unethical that Google accepts running inappropriate adverts and information just for the sake of getting the audience's attention. As a corporation, Google has a social responsibility to provide what is a right to the society and not only mind the profits they make. Google provides explicit information and does not have stringent measures to prevent underage internet users from accessing such information. Such content amounts to value degradation in society because young minds are subjected to inappropriate information at a tender age. Harris describes how Google manipulates people's minds for their benefits in the Video, "How a Handful of Tech Companies Control Billions of Minds Every Day." It is wrong that a company should manipulate people for the sake of profit-making. The reason Google provides negative information is that they want internet users to spend a long time surfing the net. They engineer online content to fit what most people would want. For instance, the article reads that Google provides results that indicate that Hitler was a good dictator. Google provides information that is out of the obvious as a technique of getting the attention of internet users. And this is a cunning way of earning money. Several times, I have engaged in conflicts with my siblings because they think I spent so much time on the internet, ignoring my household responsibilities as a result. I think I need to change my behaviours and learn how to create time for my family.

CONCLUSION

To wrap it up, Technology has so much impacted my life. It is because of it that I can study conveniently and understand the world in which I live. Google is the leading internet search engine that I use to access my online social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram. I have come to understand that the internet is so manipulative and may end up wasting your time and money if one is not wise enough. For instance, Google is so much concerned about making money and cares less about the quality of services that it offers to its consumers. It is disconcerting when one gets online to get substantial information only to be harassed by advertisement pop-ups that are even irrelevant to the needs of the internet user. Sometimes, I get offended because some content that comes into view on my Facebook page does not align with my ethics and beliefs. Google needs to get back to its drawing board and restructure how they provide their services. Manipulating the minds of individuals so that you make more money from them is socially unethical. Since human brains are vulnerable and prone to manipulation, it does not mean that someone has a leeway of using it to their advantage. To use artificial intelligence, to provide sensitive information that can bring unrest is wrong. Customizing content towards negativity is demeaning and demoralizing to individuals concerned. Psychological marketing is unfriendly to consumers, and Google needs to change their marketing strategies.