No, Google doesn’t lie. Google doesn’t tell the truth either. Google is a search engine designed to use algorithms to deliver the best results from the best possible sources of a search. It cannot lie nor tell the truth as it isn’t sentient, however, it can deliver misleading information to a search or query.
Google is one of, if not the most, popular search engine on the internet. But besides making information readily accessible, it also has other functions such as online advertisement, cloud storage, data analytics, and many more.
Google is a very advanced machine capable of doing many things. But despite its many functions, it cannot lie or tell the truth. It can only offer information based on the millions of data that are on the internet. If Google provides an answer that is proven to be false, that is not because Google lied. It’s because the source from which Google took that answer did.
Google ranks search results based on a multitude of things and sometimes an incorrect answer will rank first. If you’re interested in knowing more, keep reading!
Where Does Google Get Its Information?
Google gets its information from the internet. Every day, billions of data from the internet are added to Google’s index through a process called “crawling“.
A bot programmed to fetch data “crawls” through the billions of pages of websites on the internet and adds them to a large database. When someone enters a search, a bot sifts through that database and pulls out what it thinks to be the most relevant answers to that search.
It ranks those answers, the most relevant and useful being at the very top and the least being at the very bottom. If the information the bot pulls is incorrect, it wouldn’t be because Google intentionally lied.
It would be because the source from which Google took the answer was incorrect. This is why it’s highly recommended to be thorough in your research rather than believing the first answer you see. Fact-check and read from credible sources.
How Does Google Rank Its Search Results?
Google ranks its results based on a couple of key factors. That being:
- Meaning
- Relevance
- Quality
- Usability
- Context
The bot first tries to understand the meaning of a user’s search by going through each word and identifying the intent behind the search. This helps them figure out which answer they’re looking for by targeting a few specific words and matching them with the most useful data available.
Next Google will take into account the relevance of each content they pull and discern which one will most likely be what the user is looking for. They do this by matching not only the keywords found on the website but also the videos and images.
Google will also check the quality of each piece of content they pull from their database to see how helpful it would be to answering the user’s query. They check its trustworthiness, authoritativeness, and expertise on the subject. For instance, if you look up a query about dogs, Google will more likely recommend an article written by a vet than it would from someone who just likes dogs.
The usability of the webpage also plays a part in Google’s ranks. If the webpage is easily accessible and loads fast for both PC and mobile users, chances are it will be placed higher in the ranks.
Lastly, and probably most importantly, Google considers the context and settings of the users. To ensure that they deliver the most relevant and helpful results, Google takes data such as search history and location into account. For instance, if you look up “5-Star restaurants near me”, Google will give you results tailored to where you live rather than just take a wild guess and recommend restaurants that are nowhere near you.
However, this can make some users feel uncomfortable and violated. This is why Google gives you the option to toggle and manage your privacy in the settings.
Can I Trust Google Search Results?
The short answer is yes. Yes, you can trust Google search results as they are picked by what Google’s system thinks would be the most relevant and helpful to your query.
While it might not always be 100% accurate, Google’s AI system is constantly improving and getting better. A Chinese study once ranked Google’s AI to be the best among all search engines.
However, the long answer is Google only recommends sources and websites to answer your query. The real question is can you trust the website? If a website appears at the very top of Google’s ranks, that means they’ve met all of the search engine’s criteria and is deemed trustworthy enough to be recommended.
But that doesn’t always mean that it is indeed trustworthy. The information provided could still be false, regardless of whether it ranks first or not. This is why it’s always recommended that you double-check instead of trusting the first website Google throws at you first.
Here’s a table of trustworthy places on the internet for you to get your sources:
| Academic | Google Scholar, JSTOR, Microsoft Academic, SAGE Publishing, Science Direct, Academia |
| News | BBC News, The Economist, Wall Street Journal, Google News, The Guardian, CNN |
| Science | NASA, Scientific American, Popular Science, National Geographic |
What Does Google Do With My Data?
Google uses your data to better tailor results and advertisements to your wants and needs.
Google tracks anything you do on their app and devices. For every video you watch, every search or query, or every ad and content you interact with, Google stores your data in order to create a better user experience and provide results and ads best suited for you.
However, do not be alarmed by this! Most companies do this and Google gives you the option to manage how much data you give them. You can also delete your past searches and activities and turn your location off.
Don’t know how? Have a look at this video:
Is Google a Liar?
No, Google is not a liar nor is Google honest. Google is simply a search engine designed to provide users with the best answer from their database.
Think of a library. If you went to a library and you read a book with a fact you know that isn’t true, that doesn’t mean the library lied to you. It means whoever wrote the book either consciously or non-consciously wrote something incorrect.
It’s not the fault of the library who simply had the book, it’s the fault of the author. Now think of Google as one infinite library. If you look up something and are met with a false narrative, that’s not on Google. That’s on whoever wrote that narrative.
Google makes information accessible but unfortunately, not all accessible information is true. It’s up to the user to figure out whether the information presented is true or not.
Conclusion
- Google does not lie but does not tell the truth either. Google is just a search engine that provides the best answers from different sources.
- Google gets its information from the internet. A bot scans the internet’s billions of web pages and adds them to Google’s Index.
- A ranking system is done to provide users with the best and most useful answers to their queries. This ranking is based on: meaning, relevance, quality, usability, and context.
- Google’s AI is the best among all search engines. Most of the time, the results they pull up can be trusted.
- Google stores your data to ensure a great user experience where results and advertisements are tailored to what you like. This can be toggled.
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