When you have a question the first thing you do is search Google for some relevant information. But are the results provided by the world's largest search company always correct?
Google does not verify every link it provides you in its results. Instead, on the first page of results it shows those who have paid advertising (although it does not admit it) and those sites with high traffic. That's why it's not always wise to trust the recommended websites it provides.
Google's algorithms, such as PageRank, have gotten better at evaluating a website's expertise and trustworthiness. But misinformation and misinformation can easily creep into the results. Of course there is always the possibility that users will misinterpret the references of a website.
Some topics need expert eyea. And that's why it's always best to tread carefully when exploring the sensitive topics below.
So on what topics is it not wise to blindly trust what the websites that Google search suggests to you? Let's see where things go wrong.
Medical Information
Everyone who has one symptom the first thing they do is a google search? A high fever to do and you immediately search the internet what could be wrong. You don't have to live in a state of uncertainty when you don't feel well.
Google allows you to instantly diagnose your symptoms and will suggest various medical websites that have a reference to your symptoms.
But medical websites do not have access to your records. Therefore, they end up suggesting all the possible causes and treatments for a symptom, which they may not do for your case.
For example, while fever is technically one of the symptoms of cancer, it does not mean you have cancer. You are most likely suffering from a common cold. Therefore, you should undergo a proper check-up and consult a real doctor before coming to a conclusion.
Financial advice
Taking care of your finances is a very important and demanding process. And Google is the last place you should ask for advice.
Google's trove of data is, at best, a supplemental resource for your financial research. In a search engine, you will come across a number of opinions and articles that may mislead or cloud your judgement.
A simple query about a particular investment will bring up a myriad of links and it will be difficult to gauge which one is offering the right guidance.
Therefore, you should stick to more reliable financial research platforms rather than a search engine like Google to base your final decisions and understand market trends.
Conspiracy theories
Another topic to stay away from Google is conspiracy theories. Controversial arguments tend to drive the most traffic online.
Some sites take advantage of this, talking about theories that would bring more clicks and stimulate discussions.
Google is home to the internet's wildest stories, which often rank high just because they're popular. Flat Earth, aliens, covid-19, chipghosts, monsters, destruction of the world and other absurd theories are the favorite subjects of conspiracy theorists and you will find enough evidence to support such a view.
Breaking news
Misinformation is rampant on the web, and like other online platforms, Google has also struggled to control the spread of fake news.
The effects of the issue are magnified during a breaking news event. In breaking news, the details are minimal, which gives rise to hoaxes and rumours.
While Google has security measures in place to deal with misinformation, they are often not immediately activated. By the time Google removes a fake news story, there's a good chance it's been read by millions of users.
So when you Google something immediately after a breaking news alert, you run the risk of encountering reports based on guesswork.
A better alternative is to browse directly to specific news sites and sources you trust instead of Google.
Religious practices
Google offers a wealth of resources for people who want to be more religious. However, he is also in a constant battle with racial prejudice and discrimination.
While researching, you will come across websites that favor certain religions. It is difficult to judge the accuracy of these websites when you are new to the topic.
Since Google's algorithms are influenced by what the majority of its users are looking for, minorities can end up being misrepresented.
Product reviews and recommendations
Most users look for product reviews when they want to make a purchase. But you should not blindly trust all reviews and recommendations.
While there are sites that publish first-hand, unbiased reviews, a large number of sites are run by marketers looking to get rich quick. They hype even the worst products, hoping to get a commission on every sale made through their link.
That doesn't mean you can't trust online reviews. You just have to be suspicious and inquisitive. Signs like the following may indicate a misleading review:
- If the review is very short in text and does not mention any disadvantages
- If there are no photos of the actual product, the reviewer probably hasn't even used the product.
- If the reviewer's details are missing
In general, untrustworthy websites rephrase product descriptions rather than providing their own opinion.
Questions about chemicals
When dealing with chemicals, even a small mistake can prove fatal. So if there's a chemical-related detail you're not sure about, Googling it might not be the best way to go.
Google is known to host a range of conflicting data, and deciding which one to trust can be a challenge.
Like medical platforms, chemistry websites do not have access to your circumstances and environmental properties, such as room ambient temperature, etc.
This also applies to the use of chemicals except laboratory. For example, the debate over whether the presence of chlorine in swimming pools is bad for your health has divided the internet for centuries.
As an alternative to Google, you can search for information on the official websites of chemical companies and organizations.
Don't trust Wikipedia
One of the biggest misconceptions about the internet is that the information on Wikipedia is always verified and accurate. This is far from the truth. Most of Wikipedia's content comes from users like you, and it can also be edited by anyone.
Google due to Wikipedia's high traffic will give you in the first results at least one link to it. But the site is built by its users and doesn't have a team of moderators to control everything.
So while Wikipedia is harmless when it comes to the basics, you should verify what you read there and with other sites that are more reliable than Wikipedia.
Use Google filters
Google processes thousands of queries every second and is one of the best inventions of the internet. But its search engine algorithms also allowed the development of deceptive websites.
We don't want you to do away with Google search, quite the opposite. It's a good tool, and one of the methods you can use to limit its results to reliable sources is to use the filters and operators it has.
