The Need for Citizen Patrols

The Trend:

Try to imagine this scenario:

I'm sitting a computer. I want to research something on the internet. I pull up Google. I type in a simple, but well-crafted search parameter and I get ... um, useless information that I might as well just call "crap."

Hey, the site looked good on the surface, great meta description. But it's one of those content aggregator sites that provide close to no value, snag content from other sites, and just try to earn lots and lots of pennies from me clicking on their ads disguised as links.

Of late, I've noticed such search engine results more and more.
 

What do I do? Well, what are my choices? Nothing right now. Essentially, I can back out, get back to my search and hope I find some information of value as I click away.

Now, why can't I as a "content consumer," upon finding such a site, click a button that sends a flagging report to, for example, Google.

Now, of course, my flagging of a site wouldn't mandate its removal, but Google with it's 5,000 or so employees could certainly set a few brains on a project of assessing such sites and could test consumer-flagged sites against their fancy algorithms, check the site and then de-rank it. (I just made up that word.) See, Google can't close down anyone's site. Nor should they. Nor should they be able. But they certainly can say "Down to the bottomless pit of the internet search results you go. Suffer in the heat of the hell you helped create."

Or, something like that. Maybe not so melodramatic.

Americans. Fellow citizens, has anyone noticed the exponential creation of electronic data of late? If we stand by and do nothing, our beloved internet is going to become more cumbersome by the day.

The Opportunity:

I'm advocating for a Citizen's Patrol of the Internet.

Again. I'm not talking about censorship. I'm not talking about a porn-free internet. Think of it more like a "Don't Litter" campaign or "Sweep Our Streets." Isn't it our duty as members of the electronically oriented public to monitor, vet and point a finger at data polluters?

I think so. Obviously. Or I wouldn't be blogging about this subject.

 

Comments

[Me (that's Jessie)]

Hah! YouTube just added a thumbs up/thumbs down system in rating comments. It's a start. The system is heavily flawed and could be more effective if they actually MOVED the comments with poor ratings down the list. Better yet, they could start tracking with commenters get the most negative markings (per their volume) and start a ranking system of commenters.

Anyway, flawed as it is, it's at least a start ...

I still love YouTube.