General Discussion

JackRiddler

(24,979 posts) Tue Mar 1, 2016, 11:04 PM Mar 2016

Google skews to the Republicans?!

Here is something we can all agree on and I hope is seen as GD material rather than GD : P, so don't attack Sanders or Clinton, okay?

Google any state name and "primary" or "caucus." What do you see? They set up a table with results. Which party is always shown as the default? For which party do you have to click again?

Is this just me from my machine? I don't think so!

Why?

7 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Google skews to the Republicans?! (Original Post) JackRiddler Mar 2016 OP

"Clinton Caucus" Massacure Mar 2016 #1

I Googled Georgia. The results are side-by-side Glorfindel Mar 2016 #2

Interesting. I get a Google-generated table at the top. Don't you? JackRiddler Mar 2016 #3

No, no Google-generated table Glorfindel Mar 2016 #4

Ah, but see, when I click on that... JackRiddler Mar 2016 #5

Google tailors a lot of things geographically based on what people near you search for Recursion Mar 2016 #6

Yes, I know. But New York? JackRiddler Mar 2016 #7

Massacure

(7,526 posts)

1. "Clinton Caucus"

Reply to JackRiddler (Original post)

Tue Mar 1, 2016, 11:25 PM

Mar 2016

Sanders 51%, Hillary 46%.

Show the democrats by default.

Glorfindel

(9,733 posts)

2. I Googled Georgia. The results are side-by-side

Reply to JackRiddler (Original post)

Tue Mar 1, 2016, 11:28 PM

Mar 2016

The first result was the New York Times website, so I clicked that. Didn't have to click again for anything.

JackRiddler

(24,979 posts)

3. Interesting. I get a Google-generated table at the top. Don't you?

Reply to Glorfindel (Reply #2)

Tue Mar 1, 2016, 11:38 PM

Mar 2016

Wish we could upload graphics here, I'd give you a screenshot. It's the same for Georgia or any other state.

Glorfindel

(9,733 posts)

4. No, no Google-generated table

Reply to JackRiddler (Reply #3)

Wed Mar 2, 2016, 12:30 AM

Mar 2016

You're right. It is interesting. This is what I get:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Georgia+Primary&sitesearch=&gws_rd=ssl

JackRiddler

(24,979 posts)

5. Ah, but see, when I click on that...

Reply to Glorfindel (Reply #4)

Wed Mar 2, 2016, 12:34 AM

Mar 2016

I get the same thing I see otherwise. Google results differ depending on who is clicking. It's a very bad thing, if you ask me, but it's been the case for years.

Recursion

(56,582 posts)

6. Google tailors a lot of things geographically based on what people near you search for

Reply to JackRiddler (Original post)

Wed Mar 2, 2016, 12:41 AM

Mar 2016

In general two people searching for the same phrase will get different things displayed.

JackRiddler

(24,979 posts)

7. Yes, I know. But New York?

Reply to Recursion (Reply #6)

Wed Mar 2, 2016, 12:53 AM

Mar 2016

There's a bias in there to display the Republican table over the Democratic on the basis of relative media coverage, I would expect. And it's fucked up. Maybe not Google - more the corporate media from which it aggregates in adapting its system.

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