- cross-posted to:
- mengsk_tech@lemmy.mengsk.org
- cross-posted to:
- mengsk_tech@lemmy.mengsk.org
They’ve started inserting a subtle ad as the first result instead of the actual app you’re searching for.
This has to have been a change over the last month or two I feel like?
I’m having to reprogram myself to view the first result as irrelevant. Really makes me want to increase the F-Droid alternatives that I use.
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Google rocketed past ‘icky’ long ago, around the time they awkwardly removed ‘don’t be evil’ from their motto.
Really? They were evil way before that.
Ads in any kind of app store search should SUPER NOT BE ALLOWED. Microsoft does it, Google does it, even the Apple app store has it. I don’t want my grandma to be looking for her bank app and download Fast Cash Transfer Free 2024 Edition instead
Omg if you search for Barclays or NatWest you get other apps as the first result.
What options do I have to stop this shit?
Good luck finding your banking app there.
Just like Google Search results. I don’t even really notice those anymore because my brain ignores them automatically.
I used to think the same thing: first three results or so are always ads, so just ignore. And then recently they’ve changed to be 90% ads even after the initial few. It’s hard to find something that someone hasn’t paid to display :(
uBlock Origin is your friend.
How does this work in the Google Play store?
It’s not a subtle ad. Google has sold the top slots of your search to companies in exchange for money.
When your search for “Excel”, Google doesn’t try to find you the most relevant result. They find you the highest paying ad, and then what you’re searching for.
Google is an ad company, what do you expect.
Apple does it too. Not that it’s any excuse.
You can use the Aurora Store, it’s basically the Google Play store but without the annoying ads.
How legit is it ?
It pulls everything (apps, metadata, search results, etc.) directly from Google Play. It’s entirely free and open source and recommended by almost everyone in the Android and privacy community, so yes, it’s definitely legit.
Sweet so use that over Google play? Why isn’t it used instead of gapps and such
Can you use F-Droid without root ?
Yes you can
Thanks, just downloaded it.
Thanks to the suggestions in this thread, I started using it today and it’s amazing! Thanks for the recommendation.
makes me want to increase the F-Droid alternatives that I use
Just go this way, and if you’re fed up with the Play Store switch to Aurora Store: same apps, no ads.
And/or set up something like Obtainium for those apps you can pull directly from their source.
Gets you updates a lot faster, too
I definitely didn’t know about Aurora store until this post. Currently have it downloaded on my tablet and phone now, thanks for the great advice!
I dunno how anyone uses Aurora Store. Every time I try it says I’m rate limited or just has a permanent loading icon.
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It had problems with the rate limited accounts for the last months, but I think they’re fixed now. I haven’t had any problem in the last weeks. If you keep getting these messages I’d recommend clearing app data and starting a new anonymous login session.
TBH, Google itself is kinda “icky” and has been for awhile.
Don’t be evil.since they were manifested they been icky
Yeah I think it’s pretty wack. If I search doordash then Uber eats will be the first result or if I search Uber eats then doordash will be the first result lol the ads are getting so extreme it pretty much evens out in the end and it’s all completely pointless aside from making everything more annoying for the user
Remember, the end user is always the one paying for the ads. Either by the company making you pay more for their products (Apple) or taking bigger cuts from whatever they mediate (Uber, Doordash).
You’re telling me that not only am I seeing the ads, but I’m also paying for them??? I think I’m gonna be sick, how do I get off this ride 😭
If you buying their products or paying for their services - absolutely yes. If you are just seeing them, then it’s free 🤣
But, seriously - uBlock Origin, AdGuard, PiHole, use FOSS, buy brands that do not advertise (or do not advertise as much), use services that are known because they are good, not because they advertise themselves.
It’s not feasible or possible to 100% this, let’s be real, but partially possible and helps fbe whole picture.
Working as desiged. The revenue from deceptive ads is higher then relevant ads.
Hearing this week how they purposefully made Google search results worse so that people would be shown more ads feels like another blow as of late. Have you no sense of decency Google #ShakesFistAsAConsumer
It’s about as icky as looking at my bank account and my bank highlighting a transfer to an investment house and suggesting its’ own in the same line.
Please tell me this is in the US
This has always been the case in Google search (you know the search engine Google started with as a company). Drove me crazy when I would see an old person click the AD link instead of the actual search result
Dude they’d place adds directly in your medula spine fluid orif somethin if they could.
The digital zeitgeist is a fuckin dystopia.
Yes, happens all the time.
Some sort of malware will always pop up before the app you’re looking for.
