Google Chromes Personal Blocklist Extension

It seems that the latest in a long line of browser extensions from Google is one that allows users to block low quality sites. These sites are known throughout the web as content farms. The extension will block sites you choose from ever appearing on any similar searches in the future. Google has said that they are exploring and developing many different algorithms in the quest to locate these content farms. One suggestion has been to use explicit feedback from users themselves as a possible new avenue to set search rankings. The tool (Blocklist extension) sends all the information of sites, chosen by users to block, back to Google. Those sites are then scrutinized and evaluated. The extension is also equipped with an undo feature in case you accidentally block the wrong site.
There are those articles and sites that are just place holders on the internet but there are just as many that have valuable and timely information squeezed onto those same sites. Weeding out the bad may seem like a great idea and there have been those in the tech world very enthusiastic about it. There have also been, however, some criticisms; some worry that content farms may use this tool to attack and subvert each other creating even more internet noise. Another worry is that credible and useful sites may get blocked simply for not being incredibly interesting. The good may be made to suffer with the bad
What about the new entrepreneur who is feeling their way around? This may make some of the best new content sites on the web never get a chance to take off. Of course, that is always the rub with any new endeavor and making a site that has good content and is visually interesting has become pretty easy. Google has always sort of been about the wisdom of the masses. Up until now their data collection interventions have been much more passive but this is definitely the most active to date. It completely relies on users to want to consciously provide feedback. More than likely the real trick will be in getting people to remember to actually use the new extension.
This extension is doubtfully going to be “the end all be all” point of information Google uses to figure out what sites and content is worthwhile for its users. Rather, it will probably be yet another data point of many for them to plug into their complex and tightly guarded algorithms.
This guest post written by Rick Valence
Rick Valence loves to read and write short stories, books and especially blogs. Rick works Monday through Friday as a digital camera repair specialist at C.R.I.S. Camera Services in Chandler, Arizona. He is also the webmaster of his company’s camera repair blog.