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The Closing of the Internet Mind
Brownstone Institute ^ | 5/27/24 | Jeffrey A. Tucker, Debbie Lerman, Aaron Kheriaty

Posted on 05/27/2024 3:55:09 PM PDT by CFW

You have surely heard that your search results on Google (with 92 percent share of the search market) reflect not your curiosities and needs but someone or something else’s views on what you need to know. That’s hardly a secret.

And on Facebook, you are likely inundated by links to official sources to correct any errors you might carry in your head, as well as links to corrections to posts as made by any number of fact-checking organizations.

You have likely also heard of YouTube videos being taken down, apps deleted from stores, and accounts being canceled across a variety of platforms.

You might have even adjusted your behavior in light of all of this. It is part of the new culture of Internet engagement. The line you cannot cross is invisible. You are like a dog with an electric shock collar. You have to figure it out on your own, which means exercising caution when you post, pulling back on hard claims that might shock, paying attention to media culture to discern what is sayable and what is not, and generally trying to avoid controversy as best you can in order to earn the privilege of not being canceled.

Despite all the revelations regarding the Censorship Industrial Complex, and the wide involvement of government in these efforts, plus the resulting lawsuits that claim that this is all censorship, the walls are clearly closing in further by the day.

[snip]

No one needs to censor you at that point. You censor yourself.

It was not always this way. It was not even supposed to be this way.

(Excerpt) Read more at brownstone.org ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: censoringyourself; censorship; control; donatefreerepublic; goonwelfare; government; information; internet; jimneedsyou; jimseesyou
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To: Mr Rogers

I never search for stuff like that. There are good books to read instead.


21 posted on 05/27/2024 5:22:32 PM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: CFW

You are correct


22 posted on 05/27/2024 5:23:01 PM PDT by Chickensoup
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To: Chickensoup

Google search didn’t seem to bad 10-15 years ago.


23 posted on 05/27/2024 5:24:09 PM PDT by Leep (Leftardism strikes 1 in 5.)
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To: Leep

15 to 20.

Twisted


24 posted on 05/27/2024 5:25:11 PM PDT by Chickensoup
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To: CFW

Since I have not used Google in at least a decade I haven’t noticed it getting worse.

Youtube I stopped using about two years ago. I stopped because I could see it getting worse.

Facebook I still use because I use it to stay in touch with my family that is addicted to the monster.


25 posted on 05/27/2024 5:37:14 PM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
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To: Jyotishi

Thought DDG relied on Google’s search infrastructure.

Years ago, there was another company that attempted to start its own data infrastructure, but eventually it shut down given the inability to compete.


26 posted on 05/27/2024 5:40:31 PM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist! )
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To: Mr Rogers
Anyone know of a less biased search engine than google (or the ones that mostly use it behind the scenes)?

For news, politics, or history searches, I use OneSearch and Yandex. I used DuckDuckGo for a while, but now it's as bad as Gooble.

The one thing I like about OneSearch it that its search results are encrypted, which is problematic for the censors.

27 posted on 05/27/2024 5:42:28 PM PDT by Right_Wing_Madman
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To: ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas

Yandex has the most amazingly beautiful images for their search categories. They find the best of the best photographs.


28 posted on 05/27/2024 5:44:20 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“When exposing a crime is treated like a crime, you are being ruled by criminals” – Edward Snowden)
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To: CFW

Bkmk


29 posted on 05/27/2024 6:00:32 PM PDT by sauropod ("This is a time when people reveal themselves for who they are." James O'Keefe Ne supra crepidam)
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To: CFW

I usually use a Microsoft PC and the Bing searches seem to be of lower quality than in the past. I now repeatedly have to dig further down.


30 posted on 05/27/2024 7:22:38 PM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: Gene Eric

DuckDuckGo appears to focus more on privacy than the quality of search results.


31 posted on 05/27/2024 7:28:36 PM PDT by Jyotishi (Seeking the truth, a fact at a time.)
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To: CFW

My Microsoft PC disconnects me from my cell phone Internet about 20 times a day.

My Chromebook did the same.


32 posted on 05/27/2024 7:43:23 PM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: Mr Rogers

>Anyone know of a less biased search engine than google (or the ones that mostly use it behind the scenes)?

yandex.com


33 posted on 05/27/2024 7:48:04 PM PDT by fretzer
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To: CFW

The same if you are looking to buy something. The first search result is ALWAYS Commiezon. They used to have a little tab saying that Commiezon paid them to put their ads first but now they do not even bother. Second ad is always Walmart.


34 posted on 05/27/2024 8:23:35 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Roses are red, Violets are blue, I love being on the government watch list, along with all of you.)
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To: CFW

The Democrat party, worldwide communist conspiracy and Disney routinely murder straight children to make their soy latte products.


35 posted on 05/27/2024 8:56:19 PM PDT by MrBambaLaMamba (The only good commie is one that's dead - Country Joe McDonald )
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To: CFW

My internet searches for girls in movies, nudes, still brings me authenic images

It’s all good


36 posted on 05/27/2024 8:57:56 PM PDT by baclava
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To: CFW

It’s why they’re so heavily invested in AI - to use as a more “efficient” censoring tool....


37 posted on 05/28/2024 5:32:05 AM PDT by trebb (So many fools - so little time...)
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To: CFW

Bing


38 posted on 05/28/2024 5:34:44 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Hamascide is required in totality)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I’m guessing that Elon Musk may be thinking of creating a “non politically correct “ search engine at some point

There would be a market for it


39 posted on 05/28/2024 10:28:01 AM PDT by SauronOfMordor (Either you will rule. Or you will be ruled. There is no other choice.)
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To: CFW

The modern era Brownshirts of the internet...


40 posted on 05/28/2024 4:09:45 PM PDT by citizen (Put all LBQTwhatever programming on a new subscription service: PERV-TThose look good)
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