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Avatar Went Hot: July 22, 2008 - 11:56 am
Posted By: billslawski 48 days ago
Topic Type: News Story (Jump to http://www.uic.edu)
Category: Tips & Tools
The search results that you see from Google in the US for a specific query may be different than the search results you see in France, or China, or Germany.

Indiana University researchers have developed an interesting tool that points out differences in search result sets from one country to another. These differences may be the result of censorship, or could be caused by other factors, such as a preference for showing shopping or local results. Very interesting tool, regardless.
6 Comments     

Comments

from billslawski 48 days ago #
Votes: 0 | Vote:
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The tool described in the article is at:

http://homer.informatics.indiana.edu/censearchip/

Some very interesting differences in queries that I performed.

from billslawski 46 days ago #
Votes: 2 | Vote:
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Hi Tykeblog,

The authors of the paper raise a question in their conclusion, which I believe has some validity to it:

For example, in our case study, not all differences show the work of censors. We need a way to distinguish between differences caused by censorship and differences caused by search algorithms. You might argue that the Chinese Google is just being practical in our example. Tourist information on Tiananmen Square is relevant for Chinese citizens who visit often. American citizens cannot travel there without a visa. Is the distinction because of censorship or utility? How can we decide?


If you look through the search results in Google for the query phrase "Baggage Charges for UK Airlines," I think it's evident that they believe that the query in question is an informational one, aimed at finding informational results rather than commercial ones.  They show a mixed set of news and informational results rather than commercial results.  Your page has both relevant content, and relevant information on the topic, but your page is also a result that could be considered commercial in nature.

You're asking us to compare that Google UK result with a Yahoo UK result, and I think that it's clear that Yahoo's search algorithm is focusing on providing results based upon other kinds of factors, and may even favor commercial results.

It would be interesting to see whether, if you moved the commercial content off that page, and added some additional information content, if Google would include that page in higher search results for that topic, and Yahoo would reduce its ranking for the page.

Does that make sense?  I believe it is the explanation for what you are seeing.

from billslawski 46 days ago #
Votes: 1 | Vote:
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Ouch.  Sorry, Tykeblog.

I noticed that people had voted your comment down, and I went to vote it back up - hit the wrong button.  There doesn't seem to be a way to take those back.  I'll send a message through the contact form to see if I can get someone to change that from a minus vote to a plus vote. 

I don't understand why people are voting you down for asking a question.  Isn't that the site is for?

from cre8pc 46 days ago # - show/hide this comment
Votes: -1 | Vote:
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@tykeblog  I voted you back up.  I find it interesting both from a search and user experience perspective that SERPS vary country to country.  Is it censorship?  My gut says "No".  Is it algorithms based on localized factors, including user preferences data?  That seems more likely.

I found nothing wrong with you asking the question.

from Jill 46 days ago #
Votes: 0 | Vote:
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Bill, that was a great answer to Tykeblog!

from tykeblog 46 days ago #
Votes: 1 | Vote:
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If you're producing the best content and Google/Yahoo refuses to list you for whatever reason.

This is censorship.

Try these two searches:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Baggage+Charges+for+UK+Airlines&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a

http://uk.search.yahoo.com/search?p=Baggage+Charges+for+UK+Airlines&ei=UTF-8&fr=moz2

Also, have a look at the page content and see if you think it's good.

I'm aware my site has been 'censored' for some time. It's not good for consumers and it's not good for me.

Why are Google doing it?


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