9 Things You Shouldn’t Google
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In our day and age, basically the entire breadth of human knowledge is available to anyone with a solid internet connection. That is undoubtedly a boon for most of us, but it may very well have a dark side, too.
While you can Google just about anything, there are plenty of things that you shouldn’t. Interestingly enough, simply Google searching for something "illegal" isn't actually illegal, and Google won't turn you in to the police for your searches.
Although it's important to note that Google searches can (and most likely will) be used against those who are suspected of criminal activity. Though that process is enforced by law enforcement agencies, rather than Google itself.
But don't get too comfortable, because Google isn't the only search engine that's being tracked.
No matter which search engine you use, it's been exposed by various whistleblowers that all of our internet traffic is constantly being monitored by the NSA. That means that all internet activity, even when viewed anonymously or incognito, is being tracked, whether we like it or not. Even companies we trust (like AT&T) have been involved in monitoring our internet traffic for acts of terrorism, connections with illegal activity and who knows what else.
Nevertheless, even if you're not planning to do something illegal, there are other less sinister (and less obvious) things that you still shouldn't Google.
From the gross or stress-inducing to the possibly-incriminating, here are the top nine things that you should never type into that search bar. Continue reading to learn about 9 Things You Shouldn't Google.
Your Insecurities
Advertising is notorious for playing on people’s insecurities to sell them products or services. Modern day advertising is no different. But with the data collection tools available to it, it has a slew of new methods to figure out what you're insecure about. So it’s best to not give them any additional “dirt” on you.
Basically, avoid typing in anything you may be worried or insecure about. While you're at it, avoid searching for anything embarrasing, too. Advertisers see this information as a goldmine — and you’ll likely find ads specifically tailored to those search results following you around the internet. If you must, at least use DuckDuckGo.
Anything Suspicious
If it’s not something you want the police to know that you’ve
You may have heard about the user who Googled “pressure cooker bomb” and “backpack.” Although he was just curious, the police still showed up at his doorstep after he made those queries on a work computer. A similar story played out after someone Googled “insider trading” before buying stocks.
Searches that Confirm Your Biases
Confirmation bias is a real thing, and it’s an incredibly easy trap to fall into. Essentially, it’s the human tendency to interpret or specifically seek out new information and data that will support or back up our already established ideas and beliefs.
Because of the way Google parses search queries, it can very easily feed you results that will only back up your original term — and those results can be loaded and biased themselves. Instead of searching “cake cancer causing,” search for “benefits and drawbacks of cake.”
Terrifying or Creepy Critters
The human brain is a fascinating thing. Since it’s hardwired for survival, even an image of a scary creature can send shivers down your spine and make your skin crawl. A similar paranoid reaction can occur if you, say, Google a gross or creepy critter.
Examples? Even if you aren’t arachnophobic, you’ll probably want to avoid searching for huntsmen spiders. Similarly, if you like your mattress, refrain from Googling the signs of bedbugs. If you’re looking for worms for your garden, be very specific in your query so you aren’t treated to gross pictures of other types of worms.
Your Symptoms
You don’t need any more reason to be worried, so you should probably avoid Googling any symptoms or ailments you might have. You’ll just be led down an unnecessary hole of paranoia and unneeded stress. Additionally, if you search for certain conditions, you may just run across some gross images you can't unsee.
But more than that, the whole “WebMD cancer” meme is a meme for a reason. Do yourself a favor and leave the diagnosis to medical professionals. If you’re not feeling well or there's something you're concerned about, you should go see a doctor instead of Google. You’ll sleep better and feel better because of it.
Specific Phobias
It is a cruel sort of irony that the Google search results for most phobias contain images of the very trigger of said phobias. If you have a particular phobia, you’ll really want to avoid searching for it. But you may want to avoid these searches even if you don’t.
Take trypophobia, for example. Basically, it’s a fear of holes. But the Google image results for this particular phobia are packed with pictures that can gross out or unnerve just about everyone. You don’t need to add a new phobia to your life, so just avoid it.
Media Spoilers
If you’re an avid fan of a particular movie, novel or TV show, you may want to avoid Googling it until you’re finished with it. The internet is loaded with potential spoilers for just about every piece of media content out there.
Some people don’t care about spoilers, but some people do. If you’re in the latter camp, it’s best to just avoid it so you don’t ruin it for itself. Oftentimes, an important character’s death or other key plot points will show up in the search result previews — meaning you can see a spoiler accidentally.
Conspiracy Theories
The internet is an amazing place where basically all of the world’s knowledge can be accessed. It’s also a place where crackpot ideas, inaccurate information, and conspiracy theories can spread like wildfire.
Save yourself the time and
Those Terms You’ve Been Warned About
There are, of course, a slew of much more disturbing, shocking, or just flat out gross search terms out there. But if you’ve been around the internet long enough, you’ve probably heard of a few of them (like "blue waffles"). Most if not all of these images and videos are specifically made to gross you out or shock you. So do yourself a favor and avoid them! You've been warned.