The world wide web. A magical place where you can find 100% correct and accurate information no matter where or what you search. LOL, if only! In all seriousness the internet is an incredible tool that allows us all to learn, grow, and understand the world a little more. But with such an overwhelming amount of information, it can be hard to determine how to find anything on the internet.
Back in the early days of the internet I’m sure many people asked the question, “Can I find everything on the Internet?” Now that answer is absolutely yes! You can find pretty much everything you can think of on the internet. To optimize your internet experience you can take a little time to master ways to find what you’re looking for a little faster.
While access to so many search engines and articles can be useful, it can also be a little scary for you and your family. Your kids may not be ready to access the plethora of search engines and articles on their own. It can also be a challenge, especially for kids, to be able to decipher what is real and what is not online. That’s why it’s a great idea to only have search engines available on family computers that are in a common area. This way, you can be aware of what your kids are looking at and help them to safely find what they’re looking for. Having search engines on kids’ phones can be a dangerous idea when your kids are young, which is why having a kid focused phone like Troomi can be a great way to help your kids get connected, without the dangers of having full access to the internet. As your kids grow in maturity and responsibility, you can help them safely surf the internet with Troomi’s KidSmart Safe Browser. This can help your kids learn to safely do research and explore different topics, while only staying on websites that you approve.
Searching the internet for relevant information should be a skill that you and your kids develop together. Learning how to find anything on the internet can be a fun activity for you to do as a family. The first place to start is with your search engine. What is the most effective search engine on the Internet? This might blow your mind, but did you know there are more search engines than just Google?! It’s true! Now, is it worth asking, “What are the 5 most commonly used search engines?” Sure! But it all depends on what you’re actually looking for. For example, if you’re looking for academic articles on a certain topic, you may actually find more success going directly to an academic database to do your searches.
But since it is the most popular, let’s talk about Google. Here’s 3 of the top questions asked about Google:
Is Google the biggest search engine?
Google is the biggest search engine! Did you know it has over 3.5 billion searches a day?! Going to Google for your everyday searches is a great option because of how much data it hosts. It’s important to keep in mind that Google is not just a place for you to find answers, but it’s also a major advertising company. Search results at the top of your search are often ads, so keep in mind that the top search result may not be the best answer to your question, it may just be that specific company paid the most for their ad to pop up first.
Does Google report your searches?
The answer to this question is yes and no, it just depends on who you’re worried they’re reporting to. Does Google report all your searches to the government? No, not unless they have a warrant out for your search history. Google does keep track of all of your searches and uses that data to send you targeted ads. Their reporting may not be public reporting, but Google definitely uses your search history to monetize what they can.
How can I use Google to search better?
First thing to do for better Google searches is to know how to emphasize the most important words in your search. Put quotation marks around the words that your search results must have. This helps the engine to only display results that have the words exactly how you are searching them. Other ways to optimize your searches is to use simple words, do reverse image searches, and use Google’s filters to specify exactly what you’re looking for.