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Survey Says Internet Users Confuse Search Results, Ads

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the googling-for-yahoos dept.

irishdaze writes "ABC News is reporting that apparently only 18% of adult web searchers can tell the difference between actual search results and advertisements. In addition to this astounding conclusion, the Pew Internet and American Life Project's survey of 2,200 adults (only 1,399 of which are actual internet users, mind you) also indicates that 92% of web searchers feel they are confident in their own searching abilities."

7 of 338 comments (clear)

  1. Nothing for you to see here. Please move along. by froggero1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    It may also have to do with the fact that when these adults are surfing the pron, they dont really care what's an ad or a website, so long as it has boobs

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    ~/.sig: No such file or directory
    1. Re:Nothing for you to see here. Please move along. by cayenne8 · · Score: 5, Insightful
      I dunno...I think it says the average person, is an idiot. And, if you've ever had to work retail or food service while growing up...this will confirm that this is true. And NOT just with computer use...

      :-)

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      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  2. Survey Says Irishdaze Confused By Math by Some+guy+named+Chris · · Score: 5, Insightful

    92% of web searchers

    Dude, relax. They are saying they interviewed 2200 adults. A certain percentage of those reported they were web searchers (probably somewhere near that 1399 number you quoted). Then, of that number, 90% of THEM feel confident in their own searching abilities.

    In other words, nothing to see here, move along. Still, it's more fun to blame Pew than your own analytical skills.

  3. Survey Says... by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny
    "ABC News is reporting that apparently only 18% of adult web searchers can tell the difference between actual search results and advertisements.

    <Homer>Woo hoo! Finally above average! Take that Marilyn vos Savant!</Homer>

    92% of web searchers feel they are confident in their own searching abilities.

    Other useful stats:

    38% believe Prince Magumbe Obada of Nigeria has $14,000,000 to share with them

    56% believe that penis pills really work.

    29% believe they have just updated their PayPal or bank account safely and securely

    91% believe all that harddrive activity and bandwidth usage is Microsoft Windows ensuring their computer is safe and secure

    44% believe the moon is still made of green cheese and the landings were staged in a warehouse in El Segundo

    76% believe everything they read on the internet, which doesn't challenge their moral values, is true, the rest is all crap

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    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  4. Because by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 5, Funny
    This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. People don't pay that much attention to to what they are reading.

    For example, re-read this post. Carefully.

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    Obliteracy: Words with explosions

  5. submitter is confused by Anarchos · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "When I do the math, 92% of 2200 is 2024. This means that Pew/Internet is saying that more people are confident with their web searching skills than actually use the Internet. Saying that something is wrong here just doesn't cover it."

    The article says "92% of web searchers" not 92% of the respondents. Only 1399 respondents used the internet, and it is possible that some of those don't do web searches. The submitter of this article is an idiot.

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    "A good conspiracy is an unprovable one." -Conspiracy Theory
  6. Re:Quite true. by govtcheez · · Score: 5, Funny

    I feel like I'm watching one of those shittacular closed-circuit news shows produced by high schoolers, for highschoolers.

    "Oh my god, and in the news today, CmdrTaco reposted a story about Linux and I saw Hemos cheating on his girlfriend after third period! What a total slut! OK, now here's CowboyNeal with today's lunch menu!"