Google moves to the checkout and websites suffer

Since mid-October, TripAdvisor, which has staged a showdown precisely with Google over hotel reviews, has been complaining about a considerable traffic drop (about 10%). The reasons for the traffic loss are unknown, but many analysts point the finger at Google’s new moves aimed at increasing revenue through advertising, the only source of business for the Californian giant. The race to localize content has become Google’s number one goal, and to those who point out its “unfair practices” and “shortcomings,” it always responds the same way: our engine was built for users. Meanwhile, the EU Antitrust is investigating Google’s dominant position.

And if few believe this answer, which sounds like it came from an algorithm, we must acknowledge that for years Google was the most democratic place on the Internet. It fed everyone, well-made informational sites as well as spam sites created to milk Google AdSense. And what about the sites of kids who could afford, with a simple copy and paste of others’ content (almost always unaware) accompanied by Google AdSense ads, to take the weekly allowance? Google friend of all, then, at least until yesterday.

2010 was a year full of changes for Google. From the infrastructure change with its Caffeine which caused index upheavals that not even a poisoned coffee dared to do, to the continuous launches of algorithms with a local flavor that dealt the final blow to many sites, e-commerce, and news outlets, many of excellent quality. Not least Google Instant that insists on “advising you” even when you don’t want to be guided.

And now? What should we expect from the Mountain View engine? Nothing more than what we should have predicted: Google is cashing in. And it does so with its power, knocking everyone out, big and small sites, from its organic and sponsored searches. Now at the top is it with its many services and products. Need a restaurant? There’s Google. Need directions? There’s Google. Need a pair of shoes? There’s Google. Need news? There’s Google. Yes, because Google is the Internet, let’s not forget, not Facebook as some dare to say. After years of service to users, after years of free services to store all possible information about the unsuspecting user, now it is ready for the leap in quality. Out with the sites on the Internet for profit (read e-commerce), out with news sites that earn through advertising, out with travel comparators, out with everything. There’s Google, the engine made for users, the engine that enhances democracy.

And what do you think? Can an algorithm play with your identity treating you like just another number on the Internet?