RSS Feeds
Online
Google Maps' New Ads Appear Even In Embarassing Searches
Posted by Wilson Rothman at 9:00 AM on October 10, 2008
Google just rolled out a new set of ads, making the total number of ad-based revenue streams roughly equal to the number of petabytes they search daily. This one appears at the bottom of the map when you search for a fairly generic topic. After I saw it written up on CNet, I gave it a try, and as you can see from my image above, the ads pop up even if you're searching for things you'd really not want broadcast to to the world, a stark reminder that the thing called privacy is just a memory from a time before electrons and radio waves joined us all.
In this example, I chose "erectile dysfunction" as the search term, and you can see what comes up. On the left there is a single ad followed by presumably helpful resources. But below the map, there are three ads, which you can navigate through with the arrow buttons. The first was Viagra, the second Cialis, and the third was the rather shadier sounding one you see above.
The funny thing is, not all embarrassing searches will serve up an ad. ED was actually my second choice after "escort." While the Google search itself naturally turned up plenty of services in the Seattle area (gotta be something to keeping all them highly paid Microsoft software engineers happy), there was no ad. So get scramblin', Sweet Cherries Escort Service—there's a vacant ad space on Google that could proudly bear your name! [CNet]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
willfromtexas
Posted 10:16 AM 10/10/08
Ha, Ad Block Plus blocked the pictures XD
willfromtexas
BPL5683
Posted 10:16 AM 10/10/08
I looked up the term "enormous male genitalia" and my house came up.
BPL5683
greeze
Posted 10:40 AM 10/10/08
@BPL5683: I looked up the term "hot slutz" and your mom's house came up, oh yeah!
I need friends.
greeze
Bittermormon
Posted 10:26 AM 10/10/08
I got similar results when I looked up ED...uh...totally for a test. Now if you'll excuse me it's been 4 hours and I need to phone a doctor.
Bittermormon
AlanR
Posted 11:00 AM 10/10/08
@BPL5683: Cuz your a huge dick!
AlanR
AlanR
Posted 11:00 AM 10/10/08
Why would you advertise an escort agency on the web, when CL is free?
AlanR
ciscokidinsf
Posted 10:49 AM 10/10/08
Timmy! Stop typing the word 'hookers' in Google Maps!!!
ciscokidinsf
OCEntertainment
Posted 11:20 AM 10/10/08
You know, if there's a guy searching Google *Maps* for "erectile dysfunction", I think he needs whatever's being advertised enough to warrant it.
Unless of course, someone, like, lives there. "Oh, hey, what's your address?" "It's....uh.... 1413 Erectile Dysfunction Avenue."
Move. Now.
OCEntertainment
nailscars
Posted 11:30 AM 10/10/08
The cancer centers ads made me think of this. It won't be long before you type in an address (say 123 Mockingbird Dr. or something) and Google will know what is at that address and give you appropriate ads for what type of business it is.
Might not be a big deal unless you are trying to get directions to that new massage parlor you have been dying to try out.
nailscars
SomeoneUKno
Posted 11:45 AM 10/10/08
@BPL5683: Well, if you didnt have that giant dick costume you wore to Halloween in the closet, then it would probably focus on somebody else's house.
SomeoneUKno
LastVigilante
Posted 2:46 PM 10/10/08
Quick story: A few weeks ago I was chatting with my sister on Google Talk, and the topic (as usual) turned to when am I going to get married to my girlfriend. I eventually mentioned engagement rings and the types of rings (emerald) I was looking at, etc etc. The topics change, we say farewell, and sign off.
The next day, I go to my Amazon homepage, and what-do-you-know: Right in my "Recommended For You" list Amazon suggests their full selection of Emerald Engagement Rings!! Whattha-WUAHH!! Mind you, I've never searched engagement rings or any kind of jewelry on Amazon, so it didn't come from Amazon's history. The only place it could've come from was the Google bot sharing its info with the Amazon bot!
Now, I always knew stuff like this happened, but this is the first time it stepped right up and slapped me in the face, so obvious. What if my girlfriend was over and using my computer? What a can of worms that would've opened!
LastVigilante
mattdawg8
Posted 3:03 PM 10/10/08
@LastVigilante: That's insane! Now I know why people were pissed about the whole Facebook Beacon thing. But this is yet another good reason to switch to Pidgin. Get out while you still can.
mattdawg8
sarwatmj
Posted 3:46 PM 10/10/08
@BPL5683: you gotta deal with what u did to urself :D HAHA
sarwatmj
devilonsteroids
Posted 7:59 PM 10/10/08
damn. I always quietly wonder how google does all these awesome things without charging me for it. But then I remember that they charge it to my soul, by removing it. My soul that is. Being removed. With ads.
devilonsteroids
devilonsteroids
Posted 7:54 PM 10/10/08
@greeze: I wish you wouldn't have said you need friends. Just read it without. Its so freaking hilarious that way.
devilonsteroids
bah
Posted 10:13 PM 10/10/08
Wait...you typed in "erectile dysfunction" and your computer told you something about erections? Privacy, nothing, that's what you asked for. And I think the giant Cialis ad (that you have no problem with) is much more embarrassing than the itsy bitsy teeny weeny ad at the bottom.
bah
Churrito
Posted 11:13 PM 10/10/08
@bah: agree with you there, you got ads directed to your search term... where is the shock/horror in that??
Churrito
maven2k
Posted 2:56 AM 11/10/08
Wait, erection at will, does that mean you don't need to use your hand at all?
maven2k
Dathan
Posted 4:35 AM 11/10/08
Hey, where I live is almost in the middle of that map. Is Gizmodo in Seattle? That would be cool in a geeky I'm-remotely-associated-somehow-more-then-most-of-you way. Some of the funniest shit I've ever seen is from the guy who writes in red on the pics. That one with the sheep yelling "what do you think of me now bitches!!" is so fucken classic!
Dathan
scotth0
Posted 9:20 AM 11/10/08
Searching for that in Google Maps, you would think it would show you a picture of Florida...
scotth0
T-Will
Posted 9:39 AM 11/10/08
@LastVigilante:
Quick story: A few weeks ago I was chatting with my "friend" on Google Talk, and the topic (as usual) turned to homosexual subjects. I eventually mentioned gigantic erect penises and the types of penises that I like in my mouth. The topics change, we say farewell, and sign off.
The next day, I go to my Amazon homepage, and what-do-you-know: Right in my "Recommended For You" list Amazon suggests their full selection of humongous penises!! Whattha-WUAHH!! Mind you, I've never searched penises of any kind of male apendage on Amazon, so it didn't come from Amazon's history. The only place it could've come from was the Google bot sharing its info with the Amazon bot!
Now, I always knew stuff like this happened, but this is the first time it stepped right up and slapped me in the face (no pun intended), so obvious. What if my girlfriend was over and using my computer? What a can of worms that would've opened!
T-Will