John Rolfe: Why I replaced Google search with Bing
It took me four minutes to replace Google as my default search engine and given Google has 94 per cent market share, more people should do likewise, writes John Rolfe.
Opinion
Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Aussies love to whine about how we are stuck with duopolies, such as in domestic aviation.
Knocking the banks for being an oligopoly has, historically, been a national pastime.
But relatively few complaints are heard about the monopoly enjoyed by a company larger than Qantas, Virgin, Westpac, CBA, ANZ and NAB put together. Chuck in the two big supermarkets, Woolworths and Coles if you want as well.
Google totally dominates internet search in Australia. It has a 94 per cent market share.
That is crazy. Imagine if one electricity company or telecommunications provider had such power.
We as consumers need to stand up.
I include myself in this because I am one of the 19 in 20 web users who turns to Google without a second thought.
It doesn’t help that it is the default search engine on Samsung, LG and Sony phones, as well as the pre-installed browser in Safari (even though it is owned by Apple).
If Microsoft is going to invest more in its search engine, Bing, in response to Google’s threat to shut off search in Australia, then I am going to reward that investment.
I have made Bing — current Australian market share of less than 4 per cent — my search engine of choice.
It took me a total of four minutes to ditch Google search on both my laptop and phone. It was so easy and seamless that I had to double-check I’d made the switch.
The federal Government is trying to open up the search engine market in Australia.
But we as individuals are in a far better position to do so.
Take the four minutes.
Send Google a message that its threats to quit Australia are an over-reaction to (finally) having to pay for news stories it uses to help make its search platform so attractive.
How to replace Google
On a desktop or laptop
* In the top right-hand corner of your screen are three dots. Left click on these
* A menu will appear. Left click on ‘Settings’
* On the left-hand side of the screen, left click on ‘Search Engine’
* Next to ‘Search engine used in the address bar’, choose Bing from the drop-down menu
That’s it.
On an iPhone
* Open the ‘Settings’ app
* Scroll down and open ‘Safari’
* Under the ‘Search’ subheading, press ‘Search Engine’
* Choose Bing
You’re done.
Join the conversation
My parking fine is more than Belle Gibson ever paid for her crimes
As a Netflix series looms about cancer faker and fraudster Belle Gibson who scammed hundreds of thousands of dollars from desperate victims, the fact she hasn’t paid for her crimes — in either fines or jail time — should infuriate us all.
Read more
Banks for nothing, financial wokesters
If bankers want to play politics they should resign, join a party, and run for office – not use our money, mortgaged assets and businesses as a plaything for personal views, writes Vikki Campion.
Read more