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Google stops letting sites like Forbes rule search for "Best CBD Gummies"

(arstechnica.com)
212 points pseudolus | 2 comments | 20 Nov 24 21:07 UTC | HN request time: 0.608s | source
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Ancalagon ◴[20 Nov 24 22:25 UTC] No.42198762[source]▶
Hopefully this is a step in the right direction. Google's search results have gotten so bad - seems like even some of the simplest searches are just packed with AI generated and SEO garbage. I don't even want SearchGPT do take over the search market space because I'm almost sure it will still be garbage. Just bring back the google from 5-10 years ago please :(.
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JumpCrisscross ◴[20 Nov 24 23:36 UTC] No.42199312[source]▶
> bring back the google from 5-10 years ago

Given Kagi's abysmal adoption rates, it's clear that good search isn't worth it for most people.

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pesus ◴[20 Nov 24 23:45 UTC] No.42199392[source]▶
That subscription fee is just too big of an obstacle in a time when everything has a subscription and is still often degrading in quality. Seems like an unsolvable chicken and egg scenario though, since relying on advertising to make it free would just result in the same issues as everything else.
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1. deprecative ◴[21 Nov 24 00:05 UTC] No.42199543[source]▶
It's quite literally this. It costs more than free and people don't want that. We're poor and poorer and everyone is overburdened by subscriptions for everything. I get that HN is in a rich bubble but most folks can't afford rent, food, and a search engine.
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2. JumpCrisscross ◴[21 Nov 24 04:39 UTC] No.42201186[source]▶
> costs more than free and people don't want that. We're poor and poorer and everyone is overburdened by subscriptions for everything

But that’s also the answer on preference. Google is good enough for most people. For everyone else, there can be a paid premium layer. Similar to news, this might be the equilibrium, not an anomaly.