google is getting biger and biger. Google is getting so big because it does such a good job of sorting information. I believe that if google got too big the main problem would be for companies that advertise information on it. Since google simple sorts information it would not give out faulty information.
I believe Google's expansion may be a threat to Americans because it has so much more power over its competitors like Bing and Yahoo. When professor Tim Wu described the monopolistic companies as having a concentration of power, that concerned me. If Google has so much power over a broad range of information, then they are going to do what it takes to keep this power in the future. In their attempt to keep control, they may distort the information the public is given.
I don't think Google is a monopoly, because there are a bunch of other competitors and the barriers to enter the market are high, but not impossible, which describes oligopoly. I would compare Google and Nike as the most succsessful companies in their markets: they are the trend-setters. Personally, I use a lot of Google products: docs, mail, browser and search engine. My next phone will probably be android-operated. I have a choice to use iPhone, Internet Explorer and Yahoo instead, but I prefer Google because they're doing a better job and offer a better quality product. Information is a free resource, so if you think it's distorted, go ahead and use another search engine. I don't believe we're anywhere close to Google kicking all the competitors out of the market, so there's nothing to worry about. I believe any information-managing company collects my personal information, but Google is doing a good job using it to my advantage as well as to their own.
I don't understand why this is even considered to be a monopoly. Google as a search engine just points to information. That's it. The information is still out there. Google only says where it is. They can't change any of the information. Google is only a list of links. So why are we afraid of centralized information centers when talking about Google? They can't cut off our access to the information, nor can they lie to us.
Google refuses to filter their search results. They were kicked out of China for not doing so.
Can there be a monopoly of a free service?
The video only talks about the search engine. There are a lot of other search engines. No worries.
Google does more than search. Does that make it a monopoly? Android actually lost ground on the iPhone this last year. Apple unveiled iWork.com a while ago. Mozilla has Firefox, Apple has Safari, Opera is still around somewhere.
By the way, as anyone looked at Google's Chrome OS? Is it worth looking into?
Google isn't a monopoly. Nor will it ever be. On anything. Except search ads. Go Google, go!
(and by the way, I love Google. except Android OS.)
Google is not a monopoly. Google is definately one of the leaders in the industry but there are other companies like Bing and Yahoo out there. I would not worry about Google feeding the public false information even if it were to become a monopoly. There would be no reason for Google to skew information. Even if Google did take over the internet and did provide false information people would still be able to find more reliable resources. I'm not sure if this is true or not, I've only heard rumors, but there are these things called books (whatever those are)that people had to use back in the old days before internet. Imagine that. It would be nearly impossible for a single company to take over every single available resource. In addition, while Google could theroetically take over the market, it would make no sense; people will stop using Google if they can't get good information. Google is successful because it provides a quick and easy way to access reliable information on virtually any topic.
I think there may be a danger that Google may become too powerful; however, i think that the video was far to narrow in its scope. In todays world, a monopoly must control ALL the information. China and India control a huge portion of the world population and Google is not the controlling search engine in these countries. Last I heard, China has actually banned some of Google because Google would not filter information. India is a hard country to gage because the huge differences between rich and poor. But if either country grows enough to become the technology leader, they will easily control a huge portion of the worlds information. This threat to Google means that until Google controls total world searches they will never be without a potential challenger.
I do not think that Google is a monopoly. Yes they are extremely powerful but all they do is direct us to the information we want. It is super easy to use and is so well known that the phrase google is commonly used. I guess I could see the fear that they might filter the information but if they were to do that, a new competitor would come in have all the right info, and as alex said we will always have other resources. People will stop using Google if they start to feel that they cannot get the best information as easily as possible. Google is a great product and I don't see them eliminating the competition in the market anytime soon. So its all good in the hood.
I agree that Google is the information monopoly especially for Americans today. It is used by almost every single citizen with access to a computer for so many different things every day. Like Tim Wu said, the information market is one that already has an extreme amount of power, and this makes Google a very dangerous market. I agree that we have to be careful and aware of how much power we allow it to have, but regardless, it has become such a powerful business because we are so dependent of it. I don't know if this dependency will ever change in the future, but the fact that Google has little to no competition only great-ens our use of it.
With every passing day Google gets bigger. If I need to find something on the internet I Google it. I don’t use other search engines. The more dependants we rely on Google, the worse its going to get. We need to find a way to get around Google but since it’s so close to a monopoly, it’s getting harder and harder to get a search engine with the capabilities as Google. If you don’t change our dependence on Google in the future, who knows what it will become. I could be a non-corrupt company and stay that way. They also could change it into a very corrupted form of internet that can control all of your searching power. Joshua Baumgart
I beleive that google can attribute its wide success to it's user friendly nature as well as its abilaty to sort information at an effective leval. Allthough google is widely dominate in the feild of finding information it is not a monopoly. Several other large search engines who's users make up the stragaling persentage of non google users are still prevelent in the search engine industry. I beileve that if google became large enough and began censoring information, googles compeditors would launch a campain claiming themselfs the "honest search engine" and quickly squash google.
Has Google become too domineering? Small businesses complain that they are being elbowed aside by Google’s intervention in their traditional areas of business, and argue that in order to advertise effectively on the web you have no choice but to play ball with Google. However, I do not believe that Google is a monopoly. It owns neither content nor the delivery mechanism. Though a global business, it has no geographical control anywhere in the world. Since nearly all its consumer services are free, it doesn't have the power to raise prices and has no ability to exclude competitors or somehow block access to competing services. It operates in an environment of healthy competition.
I can understand the scare that Google is getting too powerful. If something were to happen and Google goes under, we would all pretty much be screwed. We rely on all of Google's branches tremendously. However I do not believe that Google is too big. If you really think about it, what is too big?
For me personally Google is not too big of an information power-house. People may be concerned that they're 'taking over' or 'controlling all things internet related' but in reality the amount of information is quite limitless and you can direct your search in any way suitable so in the end you don't get information that is biased or one-sided, etc.. Also I don't believe Google should be considered a monopoly because it advertises, there's no price for the average consumer, and virtually anyone can become (at least slightly) known on the internet. Certainly it would take decades and loads of advertising to become a true competitor to Google but still, it's possible.
While Google does have a lot of power, I don't think they are a monopoly. They are definitely the strongest leader in the information market, mostly because google is easy to use, free, and overall a good system. It would be pointless for them to skew information, as people would stop using it if they didn't get good info. So I don't think there should really be a worry of Google becoming "too powerful". Sure, it's the main search engine that people use, but because it is free, there isn't much it can do in terms of using its power against us.
I wouldn't consider Google a monopoly but when you look at the power that Google has in the information market it's hard not to consider them one. LikeTim Wu said, information is very powerful. More powerful than products so Google controlling 80% of the most powerful market it is pretty overwhelming. But there are other search engines and if Google were to make it where users wanted to switch it wouldn't be to much of an inconvenience
Google is close to a monopoly but not quite. Many people use different search engines but Google does dominate the industry. If it were to grow "too big" and start limiting the information that they give out to try to manipulate the world, there are different ways of getting the information that we are looking for. Read a book. Go to the library. Ask an expert. It is only a website. Chill out.
I believe that Google is an information searching monopoly. I can honestly say that I hate using MSN, AVF (I think that's what it's called..?) Yahoo.. etc. Most searching pages show news, top videos, and things that are most frequently searched. You would think people would like this, but the simplicity and efficiency of Google has become very popular. I don't think Google is too big. It is HUGE, but I don't believe it is too big. Google Earth is a little weird.. I call it "Google Creeper" because I can literally zoom in on your house. Creepy. If anything, that would be the "too big" part of Google, but I don't believe that in general terms that it is too big. Erin like Google long time. <3
Though Google is a widely predominant search engine due to its effective simplicity, I do not believe it is an information monopoly because of it's many large competitors like Yahoo or MSN. If Google were to take advantage of its increasing power, it wouldn't be difficult or even much of a hassle to simply switch search engines.
Google is not a monopoly because there are other search engines like Yahoo, Bing and MSN. However, because of the extent of the different aspects that Google has (such as Google maps, Google earth, etc.) it is more convenient, and many more people use it. I love Google. It is very easy to use and it almost always gets me to where I need to be. The new Google Chrome thing is even easier and more convenient to use. I think in certain ways it’s getting to be “too big” but like Anna said, there are other ways of getting our information besides Google. It’s not going to take over the world.
Google really is approaching the size and scope of a monopoly, but does not possess the power that a true monopoly holds. To begin, Google doesn't offer exclusive services and goods; it offers a plethora or quality services that are generally preferred by consumers. With this in mind, Google does not have monopolistic power to force its users to comply with a corporate agenda. If Google began to exercise plots such as a fee to use the search engine, or began to share personal information, people would simply stop using Google. Competitors, very similar in function, would jump at the opportunity of a Google mis step and would begin to take over the market.
Google is not a monopoly because there are other search engines like Yahoo and Bing who are also huge. Though google is definitely the most popular that doesn't make it a monopoly and I don't think it is possible to take over anything.
Sometimes I feel that Google may be becoming a monopoly. Even though there are plenty of other search engines out there, they are still not used as muc, or have as much control as Google. When you use Google they will eventually tailor your searches based an previous searches. This means that they control what you learn, and what you see. To me this is dangerous, and very scary. -Luke K.
google is getting biger and biger. Google is getting so big because it does such a good job of sorting information. I believe that if google got too big the main problem would be for companies that advertise information on it. Since google simple sorts information it would not give out faulty information.
ReplyDeleteTed posted this
I believe Google's expansion may be a threat to Americans because it has so much more power over its competitors like Bing and Yahoo. When professor Tim Wu described the monopolistic companies as having a concentration of power, that concerned me. If Google has so much power over a broad range of information, then they are going to do what it takes to keep this power in the future. In their attempt to keep control, they may distort the information the public is given.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Google is a monopoly, because there are a bunch of other competitors and the barriers to enter the market are high, but not impossible, which describes oligopoly. I would compare Google and Nike as the most succsessful companies in their markets: they are the trend-setters. Personally, I use a lot of Google products: docs, mail, browser and search engine. My next phone will probably be android-operated. I have a choice to use iPhone, Internet Explorer and Yahoo instead, but I prefer Google because they're doing a better job and offer a better quality product. Information is a free resource, so if you think it's distorted, go ahead and use another search engine. I don't believe we're anywhere close to Google kicking all the competitors out of the market, so there's nothing to worry about. I believe any information-managing company collects my personal information, but Google is doing a good job using it to my advantage as well as to their own.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why this is even considered to be a monopoly. Google as a search engine just points to information. That's it. The information is still out there. Google only says where it is. They can't change any of the information. Google is only a list of links. So why are we afraid of centralized information centers when talking about Google? They can't cut off our access to the information, nor can they lie to us.
ReplyDeleteGoogle refuses to filter their search results. They were kicked out of China for not doing so.
Can there be a monopoly of a free service?
The video only talks about the search engine. There are a lot of other search engines. No worries.
Google does more than search. Does that make it a monopoly?
Android actually lost ground on the iPhone this last year. Apple unveiled iWork.com a while ago. Mozilla has Firefox, Apple has Safari, Opera is still around somewhere.
By the way, as anyone looked at Google's Chrome OS? Is it worth looking into?
Google isn't a monopoly. Nor will it ever be. On anything. Except search ads. Go Google, go!
(and by the way, I love Google. except Android OS.)
--Collin--
Google is not a monopoly. Google is definately one of the leaders in the industry but there are other companies like Bing and Yahoo out there. I would not worry about Google feeding the public false information even if it were to become a monopoly. There would be no reason for Google to skew information. Even if Google did take over the internet and did provide false information people would still be able to find more reliable resources. I'm not sure if this is true or not, I've only heard rumors, but there are these things called books (whatever those are)that people had to use back in the old days before internet. Imagine that. It would be nearly impossible for a single company to take over every single available resource. In addition, while Google could theroetically take over the market, it would make no sense; people will stop using Google if they can't get good information. Google is successful because it provides a quick and easy way to access reliable information on virtually any topic.
ReplyDeleteI think there may be a danger that Google may become too powerful; however, i think that the video was far to narrow in its scope. In todays world, a monopoly must control ALL the information. China and India control a huge portion of the world population and Google is not the controlling search engine in these countries. Last I heard, China has actually banned some of Google because Google would not filter information. India is a hard country to gage because the huge differences between rich and poor. But if either country grows enough to become the technology leader, they will easily control a huge portion of the worlds information. This threat to Google means that until Google controls total world searches they will never be without a potential challenger.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that Google is a monopoly. Yes they are extremely powerful but all they do is direct us to the information we want. It is super easy to use and is so well known that the phrase google is commonly used. I guess I could see the fear that they might filter the information but if they were to do that, a new competitor would come in have all the right info, and as alex said we will always have other resources. People will stop using Google if they start to feel that they cannot get the best information as easily as possible. Google is a great product and I don't see them eliminating the competition in the market anytime soon. So its all good in the hood.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Google is the information monopoly especially for Americans today. It is used by almost every single citizen with access to a computer for so many different things every day. Like Tim Wu said, the information market is one that already has an extreme amount of power, and this makes Google a very dangerous market. I agree that we have to be careful and aware of how much power we allow it to have, but regardless, it has become such a powerful business because we are so dependent of it. I don't know if this dependency will ever change in the future, but the fact that Google has little to no competition only great-ens our use of it.
ReplyDeleteWith every passing day Google gets bigger. If I need to find something on the internet I Google it. I don’t use other search engines. The more dependants we rely on Google, the worse its going to get. We need to find a way to get around Google but since it’s so close to a monopoly, it’s getting harder and harder to get a search engine with the capabilities as Google. If you don’t change our dependence on Google in the future, who knows what it will become. I could be a non-corrupt company and stay that way. They also could change it into a very corrupted form of internet that can control all of your searching power.
ReplyDeleteJoshua Baumgart
I beleive that google can attribute its wide success to it's user friendly nature as well as its abilaty to sort information at an effective leval. Allthough google is widely dominate in the feild of finding information it is not a monopoly. Several other large search engines who's users make up the stragaling persentage of non google users are still prevelent in the search engine industry. I beileve that if google became large enough and began censoring information, googles compeditors would launch a campain claiming themselfs the "honest search engine" and quickly squash google.
ReplyDeleteHas Google become too domineering? Small businesses complain that they are being elbowed aside by Google’s intervention in their traditional areas of business, and argue that in order to advertise effectively on the web you have no choice but to play ball with Google. However, I do not believe that Google is a monopoly. It owns neither content nor the delivery mechanism. Though a global business, it has no geographical control anywhere in the world. Since nearly all its consumer services are free, it doesn't have the power to raise prices and has no ability to exclude competitors or somehow block access to competing services. It operates in an environment of healthy competition.
ReplyDeleteI can understand the scare that Google is getting too powerful. If something were to happen and Google goes under, we would all pretty much be screwed. We rely on all of Google's branches tremendously. However I do not believe that Google is too big. If you really think about it, what is too big?
ReplyDeleteFor me personally Google is not too big of an information power-house. People may be concerned that they're 'taking over' or 'controlling all things internet related' but in reality the amount of information is quite limitless and you can direct your search in any way suitable so in the end you don't get information that is biased or one-sided, etc.. Also I don't believe Google should be considered a monopoly because it advertises, there's no price for the average consumer, and virtually anyone can become (at least slightly) known on the internet. Certainly it would take decades and loads of advertising to become a true competitor to Google but still, it's possible.
ReplyDeleteWhile Google does have a lot of power, I don't think they are a monopoly. They are definitely the strongest leader in the information market, mostly because google is easy to use, free, and overall a good system. It would be pointless for them to skew information, as people would stop using it if they didn't get good info. So I don't think there should really be a worry of Google becoming "too powerful". Sure, it's the main search engine that people use, but because it is free, there isn't much it can do in terms of using its power against us.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't consider Google a monopoly but when you look at the power that Google has in the information market it's hard not to consider them one. LikeTim Wu said, information is very powerful. More powerful than products so Google controlling 80% of the most powerful market it is pretty overwhelming. But there are other search engines and if Google were to make it where users wanted to switch it wouldn't be to much of an inconvenience
ReplyDeletePeter
Google is close to a monopoly but not quite. Many people use different search engines but Google does dominate the industry. If it were to grow "too big" and start limiting the information that they give out to try to manipulate the world, there are different ways of getting the information that we are looking for. Read a book. Go to the library. Ask an expert. It is only a website. Chill out.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Google is an information searching monopoly. I can honestly say that I hate using MSN, AVF (I think that's what it's called..?) Yahoo.. etc. Most searching pages show news, top videos, and things that are most frequently searched. You would think people would like this, but the simplicity and efficiency of Google has become very popular. I don't think Google is too big. It is HUGE, but I don't believe it is too big. Google Earth is a little weird.. I call it "Google Creeper" because I can literally zoom in on your house. Creepy. If anything, that would be the "too big" part of Google, but I don't believe that in general terms that it is too big. Erin like Google long time. <3
ReplyDeleteThough Google is a widely predominant search engine due to its effective simplicity, I do not believe it is an information monopoly because of it's many large competitors like Yahoo or MSN. If Google were to take advantage of its increasing power, it wouldn't be difficult or even much of a hassle to simply switch search engines.
ReplyDeleteGoogle is not a monopoly because there are other search engines like Yahoo, Bing and MSN. However, because of the extent of the different aspects that Google has (such as Google maps, Google earth, etc.) it is more convenient, and many more people use it. I love Google. It is very easy to use and it almost always gets me to where I need to be. The new Google Chrome thing is even easier and more convenient to use. I think in certain ways it’s getting to be “too big” but like Anna said, there are other ways of getting our information besides Google. It’s not going to take over the world.
ReplyDeleteGoogle really is approaching the size and scope of a monopoly, but does not possess the power that a true monopoly holds. To begin, Google doesn't offer exclusive services and goods; it offers a plethora or quality services that are generally preferred by consumers. With this in mind, Google does not have monopolistic power to force its users to comply with a corporate agenda. If Google began to exercise plots such as a fee to use the search engine, or began to share personal information, people would simply stop using Google. Competitors, very similar in function, would jump at the opportunity of a Google mis step and would begin to take over the market.
ReplyDelete-Tay
Google is not a monopoly because there are other search engines like Yahoo and Bing who are also huge. Though google is definitely the most popular that doesn't make it a monopoly and I don't think it is possible to take over anything.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I feel that Google may be becoming a monopoly. Even though there are plenty of other search engines out there, they are still not used as muc, or have as much control as Google. When you use Google they will eventually tailor your searches based an previous searches. This means that they control what you learn, and what you see. To me this is dangerous, and very scary.
ReplyDelete-Luke K.