And I actually wouldn't have a problem with using google for searches if it weren't for the fact they constantly do the captcha thing when I'm connecting via VPN. Captchas for a simple google search.

I'm not against google making money off of a good product, but they've enshittified it too much to be considered good now.

[–] Andrew15_5@mander.xyz 13 points 1 year ago

Bruh, I just checked google.com again after a long time... Damn, I forgot that it was so annoying. Have been using ddg for years — no problem.

[–] Aux@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Stop using public VPN, problem solved.

[–] archchan@lemmy.ml 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

A lot of people don't bother with changing defaults and corpos like Google, Microsoft, and the likes are well aware of this which is why Google pays Mozilla hundreds of millions of dollars per year to be the default search engine.

I understand the compromise at the surface level but the implications just result in Google gaining more power and data, making it harder for "alternatives" to replace it over time which puts us all in an a bad situation when they decide to pull shit like WEI.

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 year ago

That's a good point, though I still think the average person is already entrenched in Google. Being the default on an alternative browser isn't really going to make the difference to the average, uncaring individual.

In a perfect world it wouldn't be necessary but on the bright side Google search is already doing enough itself to make the average person want to try something else.