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Comment by m3ta | Hacker News Reader

Merkel seems to be conflating the issue of search engine algorithms with social network algorithms. Search engine algorithms do their best to find what you are probably looking for -- it is a self-selecting filter bubble and they are working as intended.

Additionally, there are numerous search engines, unlike Facebook and Twitter which have effective monopolies over social media news sites.

In the case of social networks, Zuckerberg is 100% on the money on this one. Anecdotally, I've noticed my Twitter and Facebook feeds are extremely diverse in opinion and philosophy. The articles linked to and discussions had on each of my home pages are wildly different than what I would find if I were only searching through the news sites I habitually visit.

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> Search engine algorithms do their best to find what you are probably looking for

Actually, Google is heavily using personalized results nowadays, and especially with the news search.

Depending on who you personally support, you might only get results confirming your PoV on any topic you Google.

I would agree it is more a matter of reflexivity - personalization increases and feeds on personal bias.

Embodied here: http://chainsawsuit.com/comic/2014/09/16/on-research/

I think Google's personalization of search is good for filtering out noise in most day-to-day searching.

If an individual finds personalization of search to be a barrier to finding diversified news, they could always use incognito and search among many different search engines for the most diversified results.

Merkel's solution to the problem is to add another roadbump via government intervention. The real solution is already in the users' hands.

> If an individual finds personalization of search to be a barrier to finding diversified news, they could always use incognito and search among many different search engines

Few people will do those things. Most people do not understand Icognito and won't look at the second page of search results, much less use multiple search engines. I wonder how many are even aware of other search engines.

The reality is that the search engines' personalization algorithms determine what users see.

The reality is also that the quality of users' search results is directly correlated to the skill of the searcher and consequently the quality of their searching process.

Our two statements are not mutually exclusive.

You look at it as a problem for the user - the user isn't getting the diversity of opinion they want to get.

Merkel looks at it as a problem for society - people aren't getting the diversity of opinion they should get.

If I wanted diversity of opinion, I would go to Breitbart, but I don't want to. Maybe it would broaden my perspective to do so, but I can't be arsed. I've been there once, but it was mostly an exercise in social anthropology.

She isn't, the Guardian is. If you read the article closely you'll realise they are the only ones who speak specifically about search engines. What is quoted about her speech is all about "algorithms" and "internet platforms".

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