Tom.G said:
The cure for that is to delete the Cookies that the website stores on your computer.
Hi, and thanks,
I can only partially agree. Cookies can indeed also affect search-results, ads etc., but it's a local and actually only a small part of at least the issue I've experienced in the last couple of years. Cookies have far more impact on your browser-experience on a specific device.
I must emphasize I've been logged into my search-engine account all the time. The below assumes logged in functionality, and also that you change your computer often (or use more drastic ways of reaching the internet, like Tor or other). Trying to track individual computers using metadata is extensive both in the legal and illegal parts of the internet.
The (online) search-history and probably (
if they do it) your following clicks to see results, are logged to your profile at your search-provider (given you are logged in). This is the whole point of "a better user experience" that the big players hold on to; "they help us get rid of unwanted garbage".
Basically, the big players give us the feeling that we are better at being objective when fetching results than algorithms. (It's a nice feeling
) Further they can argue that it's to help us remove "garbage". (also a great feeling
). In practice they sell more expensive ads because they can target individuals instead of masses (it's ok for me with some ads, as long as I don't pay so a good feeling
). But the issue occurs when valid results are filtered away from my view because of the above (not a good feeling
)
I think a more floating question is if the big companies actually polarize people more, given that people with some direction actually gets a bit pushed further in the same direction by showing the users "preferred" results.
I'm not accusing companies or anyone of doing this on purpose, and I actually think it's an unwanted side-effect of the algorithms to optimise personal searches.
A similar known expression is:
Confirmation bias
This is in essence what the big players try to do. Give you the results you want, because it's economical favourable. This is what they do, and what they get paid for.
This is quickly turning into quite a lot of text, sorry for that. I'm not trying to tell anyone what to do, but the above is in my opinion known functionalities at least in my previous job.
).
