In a recent analysis, personal finance website WalletHub has raised concerns about the quality of Google search results, particularly in the finance sector. Their investigation suggests that Google's top results may be pushing users towards more expensive options, potentially costing consumers money.
WalletHub's CEO highlighted a specific example: searching for "best rewards credit cards." The company found that the top results were not necessarily the best options for consumers, despite Google's reputation for providing the most relevant information. This issue appears to extend beyond finance-related queries. WalletHub advises users to be cautious when searching for any "best of" lists, whether it's credit cards, air purifiers, or other products. The company emphasizes that consumers shouldn't assume Google has done all the necessary research and comparison work.
The timing of this analysis is notable, as it follows user observations of a new credit card widget being tested in Google search results. This development has fueled further discussions about the potential bias in search results towards larger, more established brands.
WalletHub's CEO expressed frustration with the perceived decline in Google's search result quality over the past year. He speculated that this deterioration might be linked to Google's approach of letting users "vote with their feet" - essentially allowing user behavior to dictate search rankings.
While this method may work well for straightforward queries, it becomes problematic for complex topics where users may lack the time, knowledge, or inclination to thoroughly analyze multiple results. In these cases, people often expect Google to have already done the heavy lifting in terms of research and comparison.
