Google’s story over the last two decades has been a tale as old as time: enshittification for growth. The once-beloved startup—with its unofficial “Don’t Be Evil” motto—has instead become a major Internet monopolist, as a federal judge ruled on Monday, dominating the market for online search. Google is also well-known for its data-harvesting practices, for constantly killing off products, and for facilitating the rise of brain-cell-destroying YouTubers who make me Fear for Today’s Youth. (Maybe that last one is just me?)
Google’s rapid rise from “scrappy search engine with doodles” to “dystopic mega-corporation” has been remarkable in many ways, especially when you consider just how much goodwill the company squandered so quickly. Along the way, though, Google has achieved one unexpected result: In a divided America, it offers just about everyone something to hate.
Here are just a few of the players hating Google today.
I don’t use Google anymore except for Google maps in my car. :) I guess they can spy on where I’m driving. But no search history.
I came across “Organic Maps” and it’s really impressive. I now use them 50/50. The only real difference for me is that Google maps shows the traffic jams. So if it’s a long journey I use Google, but if I’m not in a rush and just need directions I use Organic.
Magic earth is a great alternative.
openstreetmaps
I’m not sure if it would work with how they do user updates, but I’m waiting for someone to make a version of Waze that runs on openstreetmaps. I.E. temporary updates like ‘car stopped here’ ‘cop parked there’ ‘lane closed ahead’
It seems like the functionality is already there for it, but they’d have to distinguish them from the long term updates like ’ this is a business at this address with these hours’ that presumably won’t change by the next day.