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by pyrale 3647 days ago
> Nothing stops you from using different search engines, blogs or news venues.

As of recently, Google has been cornering me into a subset of the results I used to get, based on my language : while I used to have a pretty balanced and well-optimized experience with results being either in english or my language depending on what I looked for. However, as of recently, even asking question in english, or asking question on a topic where most sources are in english yields subpar results in my home language. This transition has been very fast - and very brutal, as if Google trapped me in a subset of my former experience.

I have been using google for some time now, and keep using it, because its competition focuses on US market optimization (bing), doesn't achieve the same level of relevance (ddg) or simply sucks. This won't change for one reason : Google's competitors don't get enough data to become relevant.

The consequence for me right now is that I have no efficient tool to search, and that Google's move forces me more and more to find alternatives to searching in order to access some of the data I need.
2 comments
mitchty 3647 days ago
Have to agree, I remember in the past getting tons of links in German, French, etc... but now it seems to think I only speak (or care about English).

And I'm an american, safe bet probably, but while my ability to butcher spoken french is legion, reading it isn't too bad. German I find much better and for tech sometimes the only link I have found fixing something has been in German.

If you find something that searches all languages again let me know, google is shit now for search.

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ashitlerferad 3646 days ago
Try changing the identity you are to Google, start using the Tor Browser.
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jean_claude 3646 days ago
>Try changing the identity you are to Google,

Delete cache and cookies, block all analytics through a combination of hosts file, adblocker, ghostery, and noscript, and google in private mode. That should help.

>start using the Tor Browser

...and you'll probably join the NSA's ever growing list. Of course, you're probably on the list for reading anything about Tor, Tails, PGP, or other online privacy or security tools, techniques or news[1]. Remember the saying, "you only worry about privacy if you've got something to hide." I think that's how it goes?

[1] http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/interest-privacy-will-ensure-yo...

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