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Codebreaker

New search, new concerns

Marc Sanchez Jan 12, 2012
Yesterday we told you about Google’s new search functionality, Search Plus Your World, which isn’t winning many fans. It’s pretty easy to see how hits for social networks (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) other than Google’s own, Google+, might suffer. Danny Sullivan, who runs Search Engine Land, writes about what’s changed and what’s at stake:
The first is legal. By having a dominant position in search, Google might ultimately be responsible for going above-and-beyond to include competitors. That’s part of what the currentanti-trust investigations into Google are all about. One complaint over today’s move — though likely mostly about privacy — is already being readied.
The second is about relevancy. Google’s job as a search engine is to direct searchers to the most relevant information on the web, not just to information that Google may have an interest in.
These suggestions would be better if they included other services, and that’s the standard Google’s search results should aim for, returning the best.
As the dust from this year’s Consumer Electronics Show settles, look for people to be hopping mad over this.

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