cab21 Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 http://money.cnn.com/2015/04/21/technology/google-mobilegeddon/ http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/08/technology/google_algorithm_change/?iid=EL looking at some articles about Google changing it's search engine algorithms, it looks like some are calling the changes immoral. is there a moral right to a certain search engine spot on google, or does Google have the right to change it's algorithms at Google's discretion without violating the rights of others? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirgall Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 I'm pushing my luck since I work for a Google competitor, but I observe that there's competition amongst search engines, and people will choose the engines that give the search results they want. I think the people making a stink want to devalue the concept of morality. They are cultural marxists (either knowingly or unknowingly). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NumberSix Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 You could say it's unfair because some businesses don't have the money to hire a developer to change their website. However, Google has to keep their customers happy by delivering the best search results. Unfair doesn't equal immoral. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cab21 Posted June 27, 2015 Author Share Posted June 27, 2015 i assume that when one search engine changes algorithm, the search results would still be the same in engines that did not change their algorithms? looks like people are building their business to benefit from the algorithm of one specific search engine, one with a big market, then blaming the search engine if the search engine changes it's algorithm? it's almost like the business are benefiting from the proprietor work of the search engine, without the search engine getting the same return or any return for the benefit the business is getting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibertarianSocialist Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 The problem with Google is it is so much more than just a search engine. It's success has allowed it to gain a considerable portion of the tech industry, (predominant search engine, YouTube, Android, Gmail etc). The problem with this is that it forms a reinforcing ecosystem which is in many ways cartel-like. If one dislikes a certain aspect of the service provided, it is much harder to reject it for a competitor, as the competitor will not have the level of integration allowed by the former. This gives incentive to stay with the old service as while its service may be less optimal than the competitor, the integrated nature makes up for this. This is a form of competitive advantage which allows Google to gain additional superprofits. One may argue that consumers are simply following market rationality as the service is still better than the competitors, and so the logical choice. The problem with this is Google's advantages are not gained by any technical superiority, but solely through their position of power. It is desirable because it is desired by many, and there is advantages in scale. It is like Apples claim to its OS being better than its competitors on the grounds of having more apps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NumberSix Posted June 29, 2015 Share Posted June 29, 2015 looks like people are building their business to benefit from the algorithm of one specific search engine, one with a big market, then blaming the search engine if the search engine changes it's algorithm? it's almost like the business are benefiting from the proprietor work of the search engine, without the search engine getting the same return or any return for the benefit the business is getting? Google is the king of search and other search engines don't have much impact on a businesses' sales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-William Posted June 29, 2015 Share Posted June 29, 2015 libertarian socialist certainly is a socialist... Google only stays relevant as long as it delivers the search results people want. I they start delivering garbage people can and will go somewhere else. Google's business is built on selling advertising near the top of their search results, if your search placement has gotten worse then you can pay for better placement. Also if it's immoral for something to move down in the search results does that mean it's immoral for other things to move up? I mean Twitter didn't exist several years ago, and since then they've destroyed the search results of other sites with the word "twitter". It's utterly ridiculous :-P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 There's no clear violation of the NAP here, the relationship between google as a business and its customers is purely voluntary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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