Yahoo games and clubs, groups and search, chat and messenger that had filesharing and video and allowed cross fertilisation between everything. It was becoming the internet, it was set to buy Google and then it just stopped and closed it all down.

Well no, it's not, because they have multiple monopolies. So we should blame them and blame government for not stopping them.

To a degree perhaps. It has also monopolised industries that feed into each other. Even if you choose not to use their consumer products, you are being used by them as the product in these industries if you use the web at all, which is most of their business model. That isn't consumer choice. Political intervention is one hope, which in some countries I guess there is some consumer power over, if consumers were to collectivise to a degree more valuable than the lobbying power of this monster. The internet was turned into the yellowpages with sharp teeth by google .

Oh yes, political intervention, that'll work, no chance of that turning out worse than what we have now.

How about taking responsibility and just not using services that require it. And I dont care if that's a disadvantage to some, that's the cost.

Where do monopolies get their money?

Exactly, it's counter-productive to blame individuals for doing the best they know how in a broken system.

Political intervention is what started Google, so I don't see the problem.

How about taking responsibility and just not using services that require it.

Google has shaped the web into what it is over decades so that they could maintain their position of power. This is the very essence and purpose of a monopoly. Yet here you are trying to blame anything but the monopoly for the monopoly's existence.

Nothing like convincing hundreds of millions of people to abandon a company rather than put any pressure on the small group of greedy people who own it.

Japanese people: oh not again

Google disagrees. In fact, the company tells the BBC that AI Overviews have been good for the web, and AI Mode will be no different. Google insists these features send users to "a greater diversity of websites" and the traffic is "higher quality" because people spend more time on the links they click.

However, the company hasn't provided data to back up these claims.

This is how we know they are lying.

Google disagrees. In fact, the company tells the BBC “Trust us, bro.”

Non-AI summary.

The two approaches you mention need not be mutually exclusive. I ditched google services more than 10 years ago, while loving somewhere they did some truly despicable antidemocratic things. but so what? They're a corporation. There are political lobby groups, privacy foundations and advocacy groups you can contribute to. Despite being respectfully evangelical with those around me, most other than a fringe really don't care enough about this. Doesn't mean I’ll stop. I will still suggest alternatives. They're my principles. you're working in their interest if you tell your allies to give up. I understand and share the cynicism around political process especially in democratic nations with disappointing levels of corporate influence over legislation, we can only engage in it best we can, as well as exerting our rights as consumers. The critical mass required may seem insurmountable but negativity toward those effectively on your side is not going to help either.

Listen man, if thats what you think is best, you keep using them and try to effect change, good luck, im just not going to use services like that and have the problem solved for myself. Let me know when you've made something happen and I'll even apologise.

No, it's Google changing their algorithm to feed you AI slop.

The first page and a half of Google results now is just AI-generated comparison websites. That's by design.

Use another search provider then, it's what's called consumer discretion and historically has the best chance of effecting an outcome.

Okay Bot.

#1 most butthurt response ever.

The Man Who Killed Google Search

Wanna listen to this story instead? Check out this week's Better Offline podcast, "The Man That Destroyed Google Search," available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere else you get your podcasts. UPDATE: Prabhakar has now been deposed as head of search, read here for more details. This is the story

Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed At (www.wheresyoured.at)

I'm not a huge fan of Ed Zitron generally, he leans towards histrionic too much for my tastes, but he makes a compelling case here.

Nah, i just know a bot when I see one.

Beep boop butthurt.