I use Chrome. I like it better than the alternatives. But, I turn off Google completion suggestions. To see what I mean, go to Google.com in English and type "tr" in the search box (do not press enter). Suddenly things I don't want to see are suggested to me. The same is true in Chrome's address bar unless you opt out (PS: I get most people might find it useful or not care and I'm in the minority). I get if I actually did the search I'd get google's suggestions but something about it completing with pictures to partial input feels more off for some reason.
But, even more, the default home page of Chrome shows the day's Google Doodle. I often like Google Doodles, but, at the same time, often the Google Doodle is some celebration of a person and while that's semi innocuous, one day it suddently felt like someone else's propoganda in front of me. I quickly changed my new tab page to something without Google.
It's scary to me that a few people at Google get to choose each day what to make a ~billion people look at. It seems different than say the NYTimes because the browser is a tool to me, it's not the source of content itself. Sure if I go read the NYTimes they get to choose what's on the front page. But I can choose not to go to the Times. But, by default, Browsers are a source of content (Except Safari? Though it does by default promote 10+ company's sites). Even Firefox, by default, shovles content someone else selected, in my face, intentionally or un-intensionally pushing their agendna on me.
But, even more, the default home page of Chrome shows the day's Google Doodle. I often like Google Doodles, but, at the same time, often the Google Doodle is some celebration of a person and while that's semi innocuous, one day it suddently felt like someone else's propoganda in front of me. I quickly changed my new tab page to something without Google.
It's scary to me that a few people at Google get to choose each day what to make a ~billion people look at. It seems different than say the NYTimes because the browser is a tool to me, it's not the source of content itself. Sure if I go read the NYTimes they get to choose what's on the front page. But I can choose not to go to the Times. But, by default, Browsers are a source of content (Except Safari? Though it does by default promote 10+ company's sites). Even Firefox, by default, shovles content someone else selected, in my face, intentionally or un-intensionally pushing their agendna on me.