Google is experimenting with a new Search capability that will allow users to find and leave comments on web pages they’ve visited. Launched under its Search Labs initiative, the feature-simply called “Notes”-has been created with the aim of facilitating and amplifying perspectives from like-minded people, both regular folk and experts, for seemingly more accurate information. Google says its research shows more people are interested in seeing information coming straight from others -not just algorithms -who’ve either searched for that particular topic and presumably found the right answers eventually, or have known about them before hand, and so Notes would be getting answers from someone who’s been in your shoes before.
Google acknowledges that launching a thing like Notes could be a double-edged sword. Someone could post something random, or worse, falsified and hateful content just as easily. And so, it’s letting end-users know it’s got their back by ensuring that only “safe, helpful and relevant” information would get past its guardrails which would rely on a combination of algorithmic protections and human moderation to filter out harmful or abusive content. Also, on the safe side, Notes won’t be available for every topic under the sun, at least at the time of writing. Google says it has designed the whole experience in such a way that, while searches about fashion, video games, travel, and more are eligible, “sensitive topic areas, where the risk of harm is higher” are not. It doesn’t explicitly specify what qualifies as “sensitive” though, but in time we’ll know.
For now, Notes in Google Search will be an experimental feature. It will be opt-in. Once you opt-in, a Notes button will start to appear below your search results in the Google app, and on articles on Discover, to show you the comments that others have made about the web page. Notes will be customisable with themes, stickers and posters, Google says. “As with all Labs experiments, we’ll use this time to test and learn what works best for users before bringing these capabilities to a broader audience on Search,” it adds.
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