How to Beat Google Search and the Science of Forgetting: Why We're Already Losing Our Pandemic Memories

How to Beat Google Search and the Science of Forgetting: Why We're Already Losing Our Pandemic Memories

Introduction:
In today's digital age, Google search has become an integral part of our lives. We rely on it for information, answers, and even entertainment. But have you ever wondered how Google manages to stay ahead of its competitors? And why is it that we often struggle to remember important events, such as the ongoing pandemic? In this article, we will explore the dynamics of Google search and the science of forgetting, uncovering the common threads that connect these seemingly unrelated topics.

The Power of Distribution Channels:
Google search is not just a search engine; it is also a distribution channel for various products and services offered by Google. Take Chrome/Chromium, for example. While it may seem like a user-friendly browser, its primary purpose is to prioritize Google search. This raises the question of whether the omni-bar should prioritize browser history over search results. Google's stance on this matter may differ from that of its users. This highlights the importance of value alignment between a distribution channel and its end-users. Open source platforms, like Chromium, can be powerful distribution channels when they prioritize the needs of the users.

The Disruption of Google Images:
Google Images, a product that revolutionized the way we search for visual content, has seen minimal innovation in the past decade. Competitors like Pinterest have capitalized on this stagnation and built thriving businesses by disrupting the image search market. The reason behind this disruption is simple - Google doesn't display ads on Image Search. Ad revenue plays a significant role in Google's business model, and any platform that lacks ad visibility may struggle to compete. However, while Image Search wasn't a significant enough platform shift to disrupt text-based searches, emerging technologies like voice search or augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) might pose a more substantial threat to Google's dominance.

The Value of Search:
Despite the increasing ad load on Google Search and YouTube, the service remains highly valuable to users. Research conducted by Erik Brynjolfsson, now at Stanford University, revealed that the average user would require compensation of $17,000 to give up search engines for a year. This showcases the indispensable role that Google search plays in our lives. Moreover, Google's average revenue per user (ARPU) for search is incredibly high, estimated to be anywhere between $100 to $250 per year. This begs the question - would you be willing to pay such a substantial amount for search? Any alternative search engine would need to offer a higher ARPU or adopt a completely different business model to compete effectively.

The Science of Forgetting:
Our memories are inherently fragile, and forgetting is the default state of our brains. Norman Brown, a cognitive psychology professor, emphasizes that the brain's default is forgetting. Memory formation involves three phases: encoding, consolidation, and retrieval. When we encounter new information, our brains encode it through changes in neurons, creating a physical memory trace known as an engram. However, unless these memories undergo consolidation, often during sleep, they are prone to fading away. The hippocampus, a vital memory center, stores an index of where these cortical memory neurons are for retrieval, similar to how Google search works.

The Impact of Emotional Memories:
Emotional memories, stored in areas like the amygdala, play a significant role in our recollection of events. Our memories are centered around our life stories and the moments that affected us the most. However, even these salient memories can become fragmented and unclear over time. The more memories we accumulate, the more challenging it becomes to capture each one accurately. New memories tend to overshadow older events, making it harder for us to recall specific details. Additionally, the uniformity of events can make them more challenging to remember, as our brains tend to merge them into one cohesive memory.

The Positivity Bias and the Future:
As a society, we often have a positive bias towards the future compared to the past. This bias arises because the future is filled with possibilities, while the past is fixed. Remembering the past is a subjective experience influenced by our current emotions, knowledge, and attitudes. This bias may have implications for how we look back on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and how we navigate the future. Our autobiographical memories need to be intertwined with history for them to truly withstand the test of time. However, without cultural artifacts such as books, movies, or museums, memories of the pandemic may fade away, lost to the sands of time.

Actionable Advice:

1. Embrace alternative search engines: While Google search is undeniably valuable, exploring alternative search engines can provide unique perspectives and potentially disrupt the market. Experiment with different platforms to find the one that aligns best with your needs and preferences.

2. Cultivate intentional memory retention: Knowing that our brains default to forgetting, it is crucial to actively work on retaining important memories. Consider journaling, creating visual representations, or engaging in discussions about significant events to reinforce your memory consolidation process.

3. Preserve the pandemic memories: As we navigate through the ongoing pandemic, make a conscious effort to capture and preserve your experiences. Document your thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a format that can withstand the test of time. Whether it's through personal diaries, blogs, or even creating physical artifacts, ensure that the memories of this unprecedented time are not lost.

Conclusion:
Google search and the science of forgetting may seem unrelated at first glance, but they share common threads that intertwine them. Understanding the dynamics of Google's search dominance and the fragility of our memories allows us to navigate the digital landscape and preserve our personal experiences effectively. By embracing alternative search engines, cultivating intentional memory retention, and preserving our pandemic memories, we can navigate the complexities of the digital age and ensure that our most valuable experiences are not lost to the sands of time.