Microsoft disguises Bing as Google to fool inattentive searchers

Post by lukevp » Tue, Jan 07, 2025, 9:37 PM UTC

CobrastanJorji wrote: post #130

jjcm wrote: post #82

Disclaimer - I used to work on Bing like... 8 years ago. There's probably some debate around whether this is nefarious or genius, but I'd lead towards the later. "google" has always been one of the number one search terms, and the amount of people who would open chrome, search for google in the address bar, then open google in the google search results, then do their search, was wild. There's a very large percentage…

Disclamer - I owned a restaurant that gave Pepsi products to customers who explicitly ask for a Coke. There's probably some debate about whether this is nefarious or genius, but I lean towards the later. "Coke" has always been the number one request from our patrons, and the amount of people who just wanted any soda but said "coke" was wild. there's a very large percentage of poorly palated patrons who aren't looking…

Post by flerchin » Tue, Jan 07, 2025, 9:41 PM UTC

interestica wrote: post #58

This only happens if one searches for “google” in the Bing search bar. This is less deception and more a fun dig. Try searching for “askew” in google.

Post by HeyLaughingBoy » Tue, Jan 07, 2025, 9:42 PM UTC

zb3 wrote: post #46

ballenf wrote: post #8

I bet this is 100x+ more effective at keeping people on Bing than anything else MS has tried. Same idea as knock-off brands with labels and designs inspired by the name brand. People may eventually realize they're not on Google, but probably only after being not displeased in Bing's results. If they have a bad experience, oh well, they were planning on using google anyway.

Nothing can keep me on Bing unless the results improve. Or am I the only one who regularily gives Bing a try only to find out the results are irrelevant?

Post by dzhiurgis » Tue, Jan 07, 2025, 9:44 PM UTC

olyjohn wrote: post #59

ricoche wrote: post #47

This is so desperate I feel bad for them

I don't feel bad for them. Fuck them. It's a delicious taste of their own medicine.

Post by autoexecbat » Tue, Jan 07, 2025, 9:47 PM UTC

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #116

mlekoszek wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're really using every tactic they can -- and for the life of me, I have no idea why. They've pushed so hard, for so long, to make Bing succeed -- even forcing it in the Start menu -- and it's still not owning the search space.

In my opinion, they'd be much more effective if they just killed the Bing brand, killed Bing rewards, killed the Bing newsfeeds, rebranded it to "Private Search" at privatesearch.com, and called it a day. Yes, people have memories shorter than a goldfish.