Not because DDG got better, but just because google got worse.

google is still better for site-specific searches, and google scholar still has minimal AI slop

  • @azalty@jlai.lu
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    21 hour ago

    Compared to a few years ago, it’s better. Some websites still aren’t indexed, and even by entering their name exactly, they don’t show. Google doesn’t have this problem.

    Brave search is also pretty good

  • modifier
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    54 hours ago

    It’s just as good as 2008 google, which is all I want.

  • @tfm@europe.pub
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    33 hours ago

    I like DDG a lot more, especially because of the bang shortcuts. But I transitioned recently to Qwant. It also has bang shortcuts and is hosted in Europe.

  • @BaumGeist@lemmy.ml
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    55 hours ago

    Yes, I switched back in 2023 and noticed it was already better than google.

    All major search engines feel like they’re either filled with AI slop results, or just only returning major corporations’ sites anymore, though. DDG just falls into the latter, while Google is mostly the former.

  • @dx1@lemmy.ml
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    5 hours ago

    It’s my primary but Google unfortunately is often a fallback. And Google is tracking the shit out of us these days. Certain obscure searches don’t work well on DDG, sad to say.

  • @Arfman@aussie.zone
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    14 hours ago

    Google is almost unusable for me even with ad block. I’ve been using DDG for the last 3 or so years now.

    • @makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml
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      23 hours ago

      I just typed “african mouse” into both bing, and ddg. I got EXACTLY the same results. Which I kind of expected . Same order, everything. However, my understanding is, that DDG obfuscates the user, and doesn’t track. This is my hope, and why I use it.

  • @nutsack@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    37 hours ago

    no. i switch to using it as my primary search engine every once in a while, just to see how it’s doing. i always run into situations where i can’t find the thing im looking for. maybe im just the obscure searches man

  • As a general purpose search engine yeah it’s just as good. Google has some nice extra features which aren’t too important (for example if you search UFC it shows full fight card info and results on the search page).

    Where it falls behind is for more "power user " type work. I only use Google at work as it makes finding very specific results with keywords and date ranges on certain sites etc much easier.

    Nowadays I use Qwant though to boycott us. It’s much slower but still does the job for day to day use.

  • @umbrella@lemmy.ml
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    13 hours ago

    ive been using it consistently for the past few years. it works well for me, but sometimes ill go to other engines just to see what they come up with, or when results are lacking. sometimes they are better, sometimes they are worse.

    meaning ddg is probably good enough nowadays, at least for me.

    • NιƙƙιDιɱҽʂ
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      14 hours ago

      DAE is a fairly common acronym on online forums, often used in titles such as these. You could have used Google (or DuckDuckGo) to learn its meaning 😊

      It’s simply “does anyone else.”

    • MrMeatballGuy
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      415 hours ago

      Never saw that abbreviation before, but my assumption is it’s “does anyone else” since I can’t think of anything else that’d make sense in this context

      • @AvailableFill74@lemmy.ml
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        14 hours ago

        If you wish to be understood, choose your words more carefully. If you wish to be treated with kindness, drop the defensiveness, learn to process feedback objectively, and take communication seriously. No one is being unkind or unreasonable here, except you.

          • @AvailableFill74@lemmy.ml
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            14 hours ago

            “No one knows what the heck dae means you lazy bum. We invented words for a reason, try using them. If you’re illiterate then maybe try a YouTube video essay. “

            If someone said that, sure… but no one did. Perhaps the Original Poster needs to take communication more seriously and less personally.

            • NιƙƙιDιɱҽʂ
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              14 hours ago

              I think you’re making a significant deal out of something that is quite minor, personally. It’s okay, though. It’s minor, so we can agree to disagree. Cheers!

                • It’s an abbreviation on the internet. Do you act this way any time you see TIL, wtf, eli5 or other. Or are you just sour you don’t know this one

                • NιƙƙιDιɱҽʂ
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                  12 hours ago

                  Chill out, man. This isn’t parliament. Everything doesn’t have to be communicated as if we’re drafting laws.

                  Communication styles vary greatly, and tone is dependent on setting. What OP posted was completely fine. No need to throw around clown emoji 😝