Genuinly terrible search results on Google lately?

[ingelberts]

Has anyone else noticed some genuinely bad results on the first page of google searches lately?

These results link to websites that are at the very least not very reputable and -one could reasonably assume- malicious.

Also, the highlighted text has very little to do with the original query.

The first obviously garbage result on the screenshot I took as an example is the 4th one down on the 1st page...

This has been happening with just about every search query lately and I don't think the queries themselves are that outlandish not to reasonably produce any relevant results.

In fact, Bing produces page after page of relatively useful links, no garbage to be seen until I hit at least page 5.

What is google playing at?

 

I am running a couple tracking blockers and an adblock (disconnect, decentraleyes & ublock origin) but disabling them doesn't seem to change anything at all.

Also have most if not all tracking and history related settings disabled on my google account.

Don't think its malware injecting bogus results, I've replicated this on various devices & networks, including one brand new PC with an entirely clean windows install.

 

Was just wondering if anyone else has been noticing a similarly subpar experience?

I feel like if this continues they could be jeopardizing their dominance in search.

Granted, its not their main money-maker anymore (if it ever was), but I would think it is still an important gateway to services that are...

[okkee]

25 minutes ago, ingelberts said:

Has anyone else noticed some genuinely bad results on the first page of google searches lately?

These results link to websites that are at the very least not very reputable and -one could reasonably assume- malicious.

Also, the highlighted text has very little to do with the original query.

The first obviously garbage result on the screenshot I took as an example is the 4th one down on the 1st page...

This has been happening with just about every search query lately and I don't think the queries themselves are that outlandish not to reasonably produce any relevant results.

In fact, Bing produces page after page of relatively useful links, no garbage to be seen until I hit at least page 5.

What is google playing at?

 

I am running a couple tracking blockers and an adblock (disconnect, decentraleyes & ublock origin) but disabling them doesn't seem to change anything at all.

Also have most if not all tracking and history related settings disabled on my google account.

Don't think its malware injecting bogus results, I've replicated this on various devices & networks, including one brand new PC with an entirely clean windows install.

 

Was just wondering if anyone else has been noticing a similarly subpar experience?

I feel like if this continues they could be jeopardizing their dominance in search.

Granted, its not their main money-maker anymore (if it ever was), but I would think it is still an important gateway to services that are...

yeah, search kinda sucks. and for some reason, most of the actually good results seem to be forum/reddit threads.

[Mihle]

I have not expected that you show in the screenshot, no.