Google is preparing a new function that will enrich search results with contributions from Internet users and comment on them directly. Enough to profoundly modify the operation of the famous engine.
Each change to Google Search, which occupies 90% of the sector’s market share, is a real upheaval for Internet users around the world. Whether it’s a change in the algorithm, a new icon or a new function, everything is of utmost importance. And the next new thing could well profoundly transform the search engine. This is the Notes function, presented last November, which should allow users to comment on the results in order to make the search more personalized and more interactive, while enriching the results. It is currently being tested in the United States and India, via Search Labs, the program which provides access to Google functions currently in development. And suffice to say that it could greatly change the way we navigate and validate information online. But the Mountain View firm does not intend to stop there, since users will also be able to respond and comment on Google Search Notes, transforming the search engine into an interactive network.
Google Search: soon comments under the notes
“We found in our research that people are interested in what people like them say about a given web page. Notes are designed to work in concert with existing content on the web, adding new layer of human information to your search results”, Google explained last November. So, by pressing the “Notes” button, users will be able to see what others have said about the web page. When they visit a page that you find useful, they will be able to easily create a note, which can be personalized with elements such as text, stickers, photos and different visual styles.
Google is working to ensure that this future option also allows users to respond to notes. Assemble Debug, contributorAndroid Authority, managed to activate a new “Comments” section in the notes settings. This is a feature under development, so it is not available to the general public.
Google Notes: a function that is not without risks
If implemented well, notes could not only improve information retrieval, but also encourage more critical and informed user participation. However, such a function is not without risks. Firstly, it raises questions of confidentiality and security. Internet users will need to be careful about what they annotate, as their posts could contain sensitive or personal information. Additionally, ratings could affect the quality and relevance of search results, as users could be influenced by them or experience misinformation. Finally, it is entirely possible that they will be misused for the purposes of cyberharassment or through abusive behavior.
Google wants to be reassuring on the subject. “We know that quality and security are essential as we experiment with this new capability. Notes relies heavily on protections developed over decades to provide you with reliable and useful research information. We use a combination of algorithmic protections and human moderation to ensure that notes are as safe, useful and relevant as possible, and to protect us from harmful or abusive content., explained the firm when announcing the function last November. Of course, it will be possible to deactivate the option in the settings.