Google is used everyday by millions of people for email, Internet searches, socializing, and more but many of these users don’t realize what makes Google so effective simultaneously sacrifices privacy. Google has essentially become a giant security camera. The company is scary because as more and more people use it, the more personal information Google retains in its database. Googlization is a reality; the world has in fact become googlized. Google retains every search a user makes and based of previous searches, personalizes the search engine for every user. Google can even predict what users are going to search. Google has effectively invaded the lives of millions of online users.
Google grows more and more every day. Google started as a green roots effort at an effective online search engine and has since ended any opportunity for a new engine to develop. Google has grown so much that if a site wants any sort of publicity; it needs to jump on Google’s boat. Perhaps the scariest of Google’s broad array of online service is “street view” on Google earth. Users can actually view the street of almost any area of the world. While this provides numerous advantages, it poses equally as many disadvantages.
“Street view” can be great, particularly when exploring new areas and attempting to become familiar with a certain area before even arriving. It also is extraordinarily useful for navigation. However, “street view” is perhaps most useful for potential thieves. For example, a thief can look at the entire Lawrence university campus, check the open hours of certain buildings online (also using Google) and have an adequate idea of the area and where to escape. For instance, the Mudd Library has a few different entrances that can all be seen on street view. A potential laptop thief can easily survey the building to decide when to go and steal laptops. This proves Google’s service’s are equally dangerous as they are useful. Google has a bank of information about virtually everybody and users should become informed to learn how to properly use the web.
Truth be told, Google is getting scarier everyday. Anything you type into that search engine, they now contain that information about you. I really like your analysis and breakdown of how Google can hurt you. Everyone, especially those before college or maybe even those who don't take a course quite like this, really love Google. And without learning about how Google actually works, why shouldn't they love it? Everything they do on the Internet is made easier by Google. Homework and general search is made faster and easier thanks to Google. Still, kids out to know the dangers of this search engine and the apps it has created. It puts many at a risk they don't even know about. And that to me is the most dangerous thing about Google-to be unknowingly at risk.
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