The Washington PostThe Washington Post

Google it? People now are searching with TikTok or Reddit

By Taylor Lorenz

20 Jul 2023 · 6 min read

informed Summary

  1. Google's dominance in the search engine market is showing signs of decline, with users — especially Gen Z ones— expressing dissatisfaction with the platform. In 2021, TikTok briefly overtook Google as the world's most popular domain.

For a generation of internet users looking for answers, Google was the first stop. Google became so associated with search that its name became synonymous with the act of seeking information online. But there are signs that's changing.

"How I feel about the brand has changed quite profoundly," said Clint Choi, a 26-year-old marketer in London. "When I was just starting to access the internet, Google was an authority, but . . . the parent company that owns Google has misplaced the consumer's trust. We don't see Google as the central authority on search anymore."

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