Whether it’s a mantra, an “informal corporate motto” or just a slogan, Google’s statement: “Don’t Be Evil” has lost it’s shine with many users and publishers that make up the Internet.
This post has been a long time coming. This is a topic that I have been intending on writing about, however, every time that I sit at my keyboard and look for direction, it always seems to get lost. What I am trying to say, it is hard to be negative (not that this is intended to be negative) about long standing resources that have redefined a market that is as diverse as the Internet. But, as with most things, they age and sometimes go away. The Netscape browser will be discontinued the first of February, AOL has shifted to an advertisement based business that may be cut up and sold off to the highest bidders and Google is no longer just a search engine built on advertising.
When looking into what Google is really about, it is hard not to look at their own philosophy. It has changed a bit (minor changes) since it’s publication, but the root of the statement has stayed pretty consistent.
Here are the “Ten things Google has found to be true:”
- Focus on the user and all else will follow.
- It’s best to do one thing really, really well.
- Fast is better than slow.
- Democracy on the web works.
- You don’t need to be at your desk to need an answer.
- You can make money without doing evil.
- There’s always more information out there.
- The need for information crosses all borders.
- You can be serious without a suit.
- Great just isn’t good enough.
Does Google subscribe to these still? Here are my thoughts:
- Yes, Google has maintained their simple design and accessibility to users with helpful information that is easy to access.
- Yes and no. Google sites search as their primary focus, but with the addition of other products like Gmail, Blogger, Orkut, Google Talk, YouTube, Picasa, Knol and others it is clear to see that providing information is not the “one” thing that they are focused on.
- Yes, Google has proven that they are consistently the fastest to return results.
- Not really. Google has changed, and continues to change the way of web democracy with different determining factors that are not always based upon a democratic model. (Google OS, SEL, TechCrunch)
- Yes, and Google has worked very diligently to provide their search services to mobile platforms and such.
- Yes, but are their efforts truly good throughout? Some speculate that their intentions are not this, but like many giants in industry like Wal-Mart, when you get big, your intent is always in question.
- Yes, Google has done a great job at bringing more information than just web pages and sites to the SERPs and adding to their index is a still happening.
- Yes, information does cross boarders, classes and so much more. The one thing that Google has added is the ability to translate a given page into your language.
- Yes, Google’s campus is teaming with (Google) t-shirts and jeans. But does a suit make you act differently? Of course, the fact that Google is a group of people that think differently and don’t want to break down the barrier that traditional companies have used in the past, like formal wear. Actions always speak louder than words. Plus, when people are comfortable, they tend to speak from their passions. Passion has always lent itself to ingenuity in my opinion.
- Yes, Google continues to build upon itself with additional services. Similar to AOL and Yahoo, Google has become a social portal on the web.
What’s next for Google? are they the next “big brother?”
Will they actually reinvent search? Personalize or universal?
Will relevancy go by the wayside in light of recently published information? or currency?
Will they continue to reinvent themselves as the years pass?
Will their focus continue to move away from search? maybe towards profit?
Will they become “evil?” or are they already?
Has the fact that they are now a public company change the way they act or are perceived by the public?
Can they keep their luster in the eyes of users? and stockholders?
I guess time will tell!
Feel free to share your thoughts!
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
UPDATE
I must apologize, the comments for this post were inadvertently turned off. Feel free to share your thoughts (again)!
Google was and still is a great company. They almost have to become idiots as all companies seem to get like that once they reach a certain level.
They seem to be going the big-brother route but unlike Bill Gates, they are smart in keeping their mouths shut and staying behind the scenes ( the founders). That makes them less of a target.
Michael,
I think that they are still a great company, but I also think that their path has changed. I think they should change or remove the 10 things that they have outlined as they are past their prime.
Thanks for the comment!
I know from experience, when you have one good thing in operation, the desire to create another can be very strong. This will lead to failure in some instances but the best way to grow and learn is to take a chance and fall on your face if need be.
Terry,
Thanks for the comment.
This is so true, but it is hard to watch when you can see that something isn’t being addressed… like a friend that is letting themselves go. You want to say something, maybe you have, but it seems so easy to see! I still think that Google is a good, strong company, but I think their focus on their core product, search, has shifted.
I’m writing a post about reputation, governance and social media. As an aspect of the piece I have chosen to write about the moral theory of reciprocity. The basic premises based on the exchange process between humans and within and between their institutions. If you want to read more – come to my blog, but that is not way I am commenting here.
The question I was looking for some insights from your post is “what could be considered the evil” that Google should guard against? I think they are a fine company like the rest of the commentors, but from a ethical point of view – there operational imperfections one way or the other does not constitute evil. I’ve read their “Code of Ethics” there too no help. The definition I plan to use is grounded in the S-OX debate – some actions that would cause society to lose faith in the market.
I don’t see any mention in your post or of the complaints you’ve listed that would suggest that Google is doing something that would end up in such a result.
I’ll keep looking – if you have some other thoughts I’d be glad to hear them.
Levy,
Sorry for the late reply, but thank you for your remark.
Everything we do has consequence. The concept of “evil” is related to the only concern is for one’s self. In other words, consider one another and the global community rather than a short term success.
Like many manufacturers, they can make a quality product and remain competitive, however, in an effort to build higher profits, they move production to a lower cost country. In the same respect, employees join a union and require higher wages and drive the company to look for lower cost production facilities overseas. It is a vicious cycle but it all starts somewhere.
Google has been given great power from the public, most of this without really understanding what they were doing… Google has access to data that can be very private. The biggest concern is what might they do with it. Google can profit immensely from personal or activity based data and it be considered ethical, however, the people that generated that data might not see it the same way!
don’t be evil- that motto is funny, because i’v noticed its never really showing out there on search connected to adwords.
conveniently extracted?
I got a coupon for $20 or so to start a adwords campaign-put in $10 of my own money-and its been 3 weeks -i’m in a sandbox with no ads running and thousands of keywords chosen.
don’t be evil
do the math, google repeats this scenerio by the billions and …. using other people’s money can use my 10 dollars indefinently as loan capital.
nice.
in the usa-i REALLY WISH- the attorney general would slam the **** out of that company and that practice (among dozens of other evil behaviors), such as removing voice customer service from adwords (nice going google)….
Actually, Google had contributed much for the majority of the users and publishers. It is important that Google must be utilized effectively.