Google Must be Kept from World Wide Web Domination

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Author: Chloe Jenkins-Sleczkowski|Chloe Jenkins-Sleczkowski

Have you heard about Google? Of course you have. Every member of the 21st century has. It’s become such a natural term in our vocabulary that we don’t think twice about using it. Don’t understand what hipster means? Just Google it. Missed the Zoology notes about trichinella? Just Google it. “Google” is an accepted verb (I’ll Google it), adjective (what did the Google search tell you?) and noun (OMG I love Google). In its totality and efficient monopoly of our daily lives, Google has burrowed into our collective consciousness, and it may hide negative traits amidst the apparent helpfulness.

The nice thing about Google – and the reason we keep coming back to it – is that this search engine is more than a search engine. It’s the only source we turn to anymore because it contains a comprehensive account of all life. Google News gives up-to-date and varied news sources from across the country. Google Maps has long been considered the zenith of directions and location advice. Google Weather will tell you the current weather, plus the forecast for the week. Google Sports will tell you the recent scores from all of your favorite teams. Google Flight Tracker will find any plane that you’re waiting for. Is this starting to get repetitive yet? Movie Times. Stock Quotes. Package Tracking. I’m not kidding when I say they’ve got it all. They even have an amazing Wonder Wheel that generates related topics based on previous searches. If Google has everything you ever need to know, why go somewhere else?

Here’s why the ubiquity of Google may be a problem: Americans have a tendency to mindlessly give control to things that will virtually live our lives for us – and we love it. I don’t need to remember which Web site has the best predictions for weather. I don’t need to bookmark all the movie listings that I searched through last night. I don’t even need to open a new browser to check my email – it’s all right there. It’s mind-numbingly streamlined and efficient. What could be better?

And Google loves me back. They keep telling me, too. Their updates tell me that they’ve improved search capabilities to make my internet experience easier and more efficient. They tell me that their engineers are working hard to devise new tools to make my life easier. And I believe it – I really do. Google wants us to love them, and so far we’re all becoming pliable in their huge palms.

And have you ever tried Googling yourself? It’s interesting to see what they’ve got on you. And what about Google Street View? Look at your house, your neighbor’s house, the house of that person you’re stalking.

And the Google advertising scheme? They selectively advertise products based on keywords found in our e-mails. I think we’re past the issue of privacy – this is something even more evasive. And with all the information that I’ve given Google about myself over the years – search preferences, user info, personal tastes – Google could compile me better than I could. What does it all mean for us?

We use only Google. It has everything. Anything that anyone could possibly want to know is almost undoubtedly somewhere on the Internet – and Google will find it for you. We’ve entered an age where the network of knowledge is infinite yet accessible, and Google gives us access to this infinitude. When was the last time you used a search engine that wasn’t Google? Hell, I even started research for this article by Googling Google (metagoogle?). Information is power – and Google has it all. The city of Los Angeles recently became one more city to switch from Microsoft to Google Apps, and Occidental College did as well. Google is the too-popular kid at school who everyone loves -you really want to hate him, but you just can’t because he’s too cool. Google is becoming the totalized knowledge center of the country, not to mention the world.

But don’t all totalitarian regimes start out this way? They appeal to us because they seem so nice, so friendly. They cater to the people – they know what we want, in fact, they know exactly what we want. They know that we’re a bit relieved to find the current moon phase and this afternoon’s sports scores at the same place. It only saves us a minute or two, but we love it all the same. It’s that time we save by not having to switch Web sites, clicking around and finding the right link. It’s not much, and that’s probably not the whole reason we choose Google.

I’m sure we don’t know exactly why we love it – but Google knows that we do. I’m scared to think that all the information Google has could be used for something very bad. Maybe that’s the terrifying part. Or even more terrifying, Google may know us better than we even know ourselves.

Chloe Jenkins-Sleczkowski is a senior ECLS major. She can be reached at cjenkins@oxy.edu.

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