In the very early days, you didn't need a search engine because there weren't that many web sites and you knew most of the main ones anyway (or later on had them in your own hotlists in Mosaic). Nowadays you need a search because there is so much content.
The problem is that the amount of content and the size of the potential user base are so large that is is impossible to offer search as a free service, i.e. it has to be funded in some way. Perhaps instead of having a free advertising-driven search, there would be space for a subscription-based model? Subscription based (and advert free) models seem to be working in other areas, e.g. TV/films and music.
Another problem though is that more and more content seems to be becoming unsearchable, e.g. behind walled gardens or inside apps.
Exactly my thought. But it definitely wouldn't get mass adoption which is good because mass-market content websites are questionable in terms of user experience (they also need to cover content creating costs by popups/ads/pushes). One thing, though, ad based search engines lift ad based websites because they can sell ad on a second end.
Maybe we'll see advent of specialised paid search engines SaaSs with authentic and independent content authors like professional blogs.
The problem is that the amount of content and the size of the potential user base are so large that is is impossible to offer search as a free service, i.e. it has to be funded in some way. Perhaps instead of having a free advertising-driven search, there would be space for a subscription-based model? Subscription based (and advert free) models seem to be working in other areas, e.g. TV/films and music.
Another problem though is that more and more content seems to be becoming unsearchable, e.g. behind walled gardens or inside apps.