So it turns out that if you find a business on Google, let's say an HVAC specialist that you've been using for a while, use the Google provided "Share" button that generates a shareable link to their business, and send the link to your parents, there is a high likelihood your parents will see a different "Sponsored" result on their phones when they click the link, and ultimately end up paying 3 times more than what you told them they would for an HVAC check. End of rant.
Comments
ravenstine•1h ago
If anything, Google is in the business of making sure you don't get the results you're looking for. What you bring up reminds me of the Play store. On the rare occasions that I use it, I will search for an app and often the first result above the fold is a competing app with an entirely different name. Granted, I think there's some fine text on the page that says "Sponsored" or whatever, but it's obviously put there with the intent that you'll accidentally install it thinking it's the thing you were looking for. Occasionally it's a competing app with a similar logo or color scheme, which even trips me up. It's just one of many reasons I avoid Google in the rest of my life.
ravenstine•1h ago