Google expands ability to veto search results

September 14, 2011

Google has expanded the ability of users to veto search results that aren't useful

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Google on Wednesday expanded the ability of users to veto search results that aren't useful. An option launched early this year allowing people to block unwanted results served up at Google's main search page was expanded to most of the Internet giant's online venues, according to search quality engineer Johannes Henkel.

Google on Wednesday expanded the ability of users to veto search results that aren't useful.

An option launched early this year allowing people to block unwanted results served up at Google's main search page was expanded to most of the Internet giant's online venues, according to search quality engineer Johannes Henkel.

"We're happy to be helping users all over the world to take control of their search experience and personalize their results in this manner," Henkel said in a blog post.

"We've also started incorporating data about sites people have blocked into our general search ranking algorithms to help users find more high quality sites," he said.

The option managed from a lets people block results so that links from that online domain will not be provided in response to future queries.

"Sometimes you'll click on a result, find that it's not what you wanted, and head right back to the page," Henkel said.

"It could be that the result wasn't quite right for your query, but other times you may be generally dissatisfied with a particular site appearing in your search results," he added.

(c) 2011 AFP

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NANOBRAIN
Sep 14, 2011

Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
GREAT!
Temple
Sep 14, 2011

Rank: not rated yet
At last.

SEO specialists, dust off your resumes.
frajo
Sep 15, 2011

Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
"We've also started incorporating data about sites people have blocked into our general search ranking algorithms to help users find more high quality sites,"

Let's hope this does not turn out a feature that allows governments, corporations, and other SIGs to suppress less-flattering sites by simply ranking them down into invisibility.
Raising the question: Is there any ranking algorithm not vulnerable to manipulation?
Rank 5 /5 (3 votes)
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