The search results are getting worse and worse and now with the new Reddit-Google deal, I don’t think I can continue to use DDG. The results are not very good, the results are even more censored than Google’s.
I wanted to care about my online privacy, but the trade-off is so huge. Why are all these privacy products so bad?
And it seems that duckduckgo is working on literally everything but the quality of search results. Like, who needs another browser when Firefox and Brave do a good job? Why jump on trends like AI when there is no image search? VPN? Email aliases? Dude, the core product is stagnating.
the core product is stagnating
I think that’s the main issue. Where you (and I, for that matter) might consider “search” their core product, I am not quite sure if DDG does too. Look at their branding, or the About page: “We are the independent Internet privacy company”.
Search may not be their core product anymore. Some other commenter likened it to Proton, and although personally I would prefer DDG focusing on search, I suppose that redditor was right.
Yeah. I think all search engines are stagnating. If you find better results on Google you might consider StartPage which is using Google’s results underneath instead of Bing’s like DDG
I think there is the typical “Google sucks and wants every little thing to be an ad” which is part of the benefit of DDG searches.
And then there is the larger issue of the internet being flooded with meaningless crap because of AI-generated websites/articles/reviews/products/etc. This is a huge problem for every search engine which is also affecting the quality of DDG results.
yeah, I’m frustrated too. the search engine still doesn’t have widgets for quick answers, which means you have to click one or two links even for stuff that should be a simple answer. and the DDG Browser still doesn’t have a proper bookmark manager, which makes it a massive pain to use.
I’ve largely given up on both on my Mac. and already deleted DDG Browser from iPhone. it’s a pity.
Seven years ago a request was put in requesting that DDG return the channel/video owner for video search results, not just the platform. Still not done. I like privacy but I also value function, and I think DDG is failing on that front. I’m giving it up, which saddens me.
So far I think Brave’s results are better
The Reddit-Google deal is likely illegal.
DDG is far more superior search engine than any other engines. It gives me best results I want. However for some search results, I need to search more like go through 2-3 pages but yeah it’s good for me. I am using it on Firefox as well as on Brave.
AI is also great source of getting information, if you dont want to stress out for search results.
They’re not that far off from big G. I use SearXing and one nice thing is the meta search shows me who actually located each hit. DDG isn’t that bad. StartPage doesn’t get a leg up by using Google. And even some of the true independents hold their own.
What will be interesting is the result of the federal case against Google declaring a violation of Sherman anti-trust act. The result is sure to be severe and truly bad for Google. Even ahead of court action it forces everyone to abandon ship in anticipation. What will be interesting is this likely will kick off a competitive war among search services shaking up the landscape. Right now search just isn’t profitable for anyone else…you can tell by the lackluster efforts. And crap like AMP actively prevents competitors. I’d say 80% of web sites beg me to login to big G since I don’t connect through them at all.
I think they are taking that enshittification money. I typed remake Melvin Gloria and ended up with a page of Madagascar 2 ads.
The same is happening to Google as AI generated content is proliferating across the web. There’s a huge glut of SEO optimized shit that’s making its way to the top of search.
I suggest you try Mojeek. Creates its own results and does not rely on others for its results. Concentrates on providing search results you expect to receive without imposing on you what search engines like Google want to extract from you. Has an Index of over 8 Billion pages and search results are lightning quick
DDG relies on the results of other providers. Those other providers aren’t improving.
How can they improve something they don’t control?
How can the parasite improve the host?
search.brave.com has been my new go to.
I just switched to Mojeek. They have their own algorithm, their own crawlers, their own database. It’s completely independent of all the big boys, not just another meta search. The downside is that searches may not be as thorough or as quick as others. The upside is that they are 100% unfiltered. So if you search for something deemed “controversial” by Big Tech you will get legit results rather than just what they think you should see.
Hmmm. Google search is a complete crapfest. So much annoying “sponsered” content and image search is now an impossible maze. So compared to that absolute flaming disaster on wheels, I think DDG (Bing) results are still pretty good. Generally speaking, all search has been broken for a few years now… the over-use of “tailored results” and the SEO craze and backlash to it basically broke eberything. We are in post peak internet and have been for awhile.
Idk I am really happy with the AI