Mozilla could be “biggest loser” if DOJ wins Google trial, ex-Google exec says.

Curious what people here think about Mozilla CEO Mitchell Baker’s statement in Google’s anti-monopoly trial-. She claims that Firefox uses Google as its default search because users prefer it, not because of payments from Google.

  • kadu@lemmy.world
    78·
    1 year ago

    Well… I’m not going to dispute most users probably prefer Google.

    But this data point means nothing. Yahoo? Seriously? I’d rather go to the local library and ask the clerk for a search term instead of relying on Yahoo.

    You can’t conclude users won’t tolerate anything but Google just because you made a deal with a pile of trash. Windows defaults to Bing and most of my family members didn’t even notice it’s not Google.

      • Bitrot@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
        16·
        1 year ago

        Acquisitions and spinoffs. The current company is from 2021. Among other things they own AOL, Engadget, and TechCrunch.

      • n3er0o@lemmy.ml
        8·
        1 year ago

        Yahoo is pretty big in Japan. They offer a service called Yahoo Auctions Japan that is pretty similar to ebay.

      • Zorque@kbin.social
        51·
        1 year ago

        Momentum, I think. Lots of people who have yahoo email addresses (possibly from when they had integrated ISP emails, do they still have that?) and don’t want to switch.

    • thomask@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
      91·
      1 year ago

      I’d rather go to the local library and ask the clerk for a search term

      Sounds kind of relaxing tbh

      • tetris11@lemmy.ml
        3·
        1 year ago

        “Greetings, I would like to know more about this ‘ligma’. Yes I can wait. Yep, thanks, took a ticket.”

    • unalivejoy@lemm.eeEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Even then, changing the default search engine wouldn’t be enough reason to switch browsers. Otherwise I would find a browser that defaults to duck duck go.

    • akilou@sh.itjust.works
      21·
      1 year ago

      But like how hard is it to change the default search, 3 clicks? Then you’re done for life on every computer or phone you ever use, as long as sync is set up.

    • 30p87@feddit.de
      1·
      1 year ago

      Then your family should switch to DuckDuckGO tho.

      My grandparents have used it for years, no problems.

    • yukichigai@kbin.social
      21·
      1 year ago

      That’s Bing now. Bing back in the day was bad. Not Yahoo bad, but still bad.

      Separate of that though, Yahoo search is just bad so I do believe this. There are other viable options and were a few back in 2017; Yahoo was not one of them.

      • kadu@lemmy.world
        41·
        1 year ago

        I don’t really see how your reply relates to my point, to be honest.

        I’m talking about how Mozilla can’t claim users only like Google based on their test with Yahoo, because Yahoo sucks. That’s like concluding people only eat filet mignon after serving them with a plate of shit.

  • Veraxus@kbin.social
    241·
    1 year ago

    As a Firefox user I prefer Kagi. Google is the antithesis of everything Firefox is supposed to stand for. That said, Yahoo has always been horrible and, out of the options that ARE available, Yahoo was easily the absolute worst.

  • TheMadnessKing@lemdro.idEnglish
    111·
    1 year ago

    IMO DDG, Yahoo and Bing all sucks when it comes to anything complicated. I can see why general public would be put off by this. If they can’t figure on how to switch Search engines, then don’t really care about any Privacy.

  • coolasbreeze@lemmy.world
    53·
    1 year ago

    It’s 100% because of the payments. They could use DDg without issues. But to be honest Firefox uses basically rely on Google funding and that in turn allows Google to continue to monopolies search. Deal with the devil but not sure of there is a real alternative.

    • Stumblinbear@pawb.social
      31·
      1 year ago

      DDG doesn’t really compare to Google search results. I can hardly find anything I’m looking for when it’s pretty much always on the first page of Google

    • dadaredone@lemmy.ml
      11·
      1 year ago

      DDG sucks when it comes on regional searches or bing in particular, searches related to education is shit if you are still studying.

  • pearlkingstone@lemmings.world
    929·
    1 year ago

    I believe Mozilla’s decision to part ways with Yahoo after the “failed” search deal was a smart move. User trust and satisfaction should always be a priority, and I hope they continue to focus on delivering a top-notch browsing experience to regain lost users.