Elon Musk’s revelation of an unconventional Google search feature sparked controversy on social media, with users branding Google as a “compromised platform.” Musk shared a screenshot of a “pro-tip” advising users to prepend “before:2023” to their search queries, purportedly yielding more relevant results. This tip was met with enthusiasm from users who appreciated its effectiveness in filtering out AI-generated SEO clutter.
Musk’s caption, “It’s a real problem!” underscored the significance of this discovery. Many users echoed Musk’s sentiment, expressing dissatisfaction with Google’s search engine and calling for alternative solutions. Some even suggested that Musk and his company, 𝕏, develop their own search engine to address perceived shortcomings in Google’s operation. Allegations surfaced regarding Google’s purported affiliations with the FBI and the Democratic Party, further fueling distrust among users.
Criticism of Google’s search practices centred on allegations of political bias and manipulation. Users accused Google of distorting search results to align with certain political narratives, citing the addition of a “DEI prompt layer” as evidence of bias. Concerns were raised about the influence of political correctness on search results, prompting calls for unbiased information retrieval.
The discussion expanded to encompass broader issues of information integrity and historical accuracy. Some users advocated for recording authentic history on the blockchain to safeguard against potential manipulation by platforms like Google. Others expressed a refusal to use Google altogether, citing concerns about its credibility and impartiality.
In response to Musk’s post, users urged for the creation of alternative search engines to ensure access to comprehensive and unbiased information. There was a consensus among users that Google’s alleged manipulation of search results posed a threat to information integrity and democratic discourse.
The article originally appeared on Times Now.