Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Search Engine Payola

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the trust-but-verify dept.

Cranial Dome writes: "The top four portals -- MSN, AOL, Yahoo, and Terra Lycos -- all have search results tainted by their acceptance of money for listings, according to this article in the Washington Post. Of the top search engines and portals (including Alta Vista, Inktomi, and Lycos), only Google has vowed to NOT accept money from companies for guaranteed placement in search results. Another reason to love the Google thang."

5 of 282 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Google * by Bonker · · Score: 1, Troll

    Google rocks. Go to images.google.com. Turn the adult content filter off. Type in thongs. You very quickly get to see this image, which frankly, made my day.

    --
    The next Slashdot story will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and slashdot the links early!
  2. Re:My question is .. by wundadog · · Score: 0, Troll

    Better watch out for those new fangled Google boxes

  3. Re:As a matter of fact by Evro · · Score: 1, Troll
    Most search engines clearly mark sponsored links. Look:
    • AOL search for 'linens' - "recommended sites" then "sponsored sites" then "matching sites"
    • MSN search for 'linens' - actually, this one has "featured sites", then "sponsored sites", then real links. The "featured sites" are numbered along with the search results, and are apparently hosted on MSN.
    • Yahoo search for 'linens' - Category matches, then Sponsor Matches, then website matches.
    • Lycos for 'linens' - Sponsored Matches, then "from the lycos network" listed as a result, then real results.
    • AltaVista for 'linens' - "Products and services" (links to overture, definitely NOT clearly marked), then a "shortcut" to dealtime, also not clearly marked, then real results.
    I don't see why people think this is so terrible. It's not like they're mixed in there with the rest, they're clearly marked (except for AltaVista, which also opened up 3 popups). If people aren't clever enough to see what theyre clicking on then they all deserve to get the bomb.
    --
    rooooar
  4. Re:Scientology knows how to manipulate Google by talks_to_birds · · Score: 1, Troll
    Who cares?

    Anybody with half a brain already knows all they need to about Scientology...

    t_t_b

    --
    I'm on PJ's "enemies" list! Are you?
  5. Re:Scientology knows how to manipulate Google by InitZero · · Score: 2, Troll

    Anybody with half a brain already knows all they need to about Scientology...

    Correction: Anyone with half a brain probably already IS a scientologist.

    InitZero