People Are Constantly Searching For COVID-19 News, With Over 10 Million Google Hits In India
This was revealed by CEO Sundar Pichai during Alphabet¡¯s first-quarter earnings call on Tuesday. He stated that people are thoroughly using Google Search to find authoritative information as well as suggestions/guidance regarding the novel coronavirus.
With COVID-19 taking over our world and us being locked indoors, the internet is our only saviour. We use it for work, entertainment, or just to kill time.
Reuters
Most of us also use it to keep a track on the novel coronavirus, trying to look for authorised sources for information on the number of cases in a particular city, state or country.
And Google recently revealed that people actually searched more for COVID-19 (four times more to be exact) than they ever searched for Super Bowl games in America (going as high as 10 million in India alone).
This was revealed by CEO Sundar Pichai during Alphabet¡¯s first-quarter earnings call on Tuesday. He stated that people are thoroughly using Google Search to find authoritative information as well as suggestions/guidance regarding the novel coronavirus.
The company also shared how they¡¯ve been working tirelessly to stop spreading of misinformation on the internet while helping people stay connected during the COVID-19 lockdown.
In fact, it had already announced in March that it was beginning to start cracking down on spreading of misinformation. They started doing this by barring searches of coronavirus or COVID-19 on its app platform Google Play.
AP
They also launched the website ¡®Coronavirus: Stay Informed¡¯ giving readers access to trusted and authorised content on the development of COVID-19.
This week, YouTube too took this pledge to the next level by introducing fact-checking to prevent the spreading of misinformation. They¡¯re now showing videos on sidebars/ panels on the topics someone just searched about, which have already been verified/ fact-checked. These panels were initially launched in India and Brazil but will be rolled in the US now.
Pichai said in a statement, ¡°People are being more cautious and seeking authoritative advice and guidance to protect their family's safety.
Alphabet¡¯s Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat said in a statement, ¡°We're humbled that users continue to turn to us as much as they do in a time of global need and uncertainty. We take that responsibility very seriously.¡±
