Europe forces a search reset: Google experiments with fairer rankings

"Traditionally, statistics show that most users will trust what they see at the top of a search page. They don't generally question it. That sort of placement alone can give a company a significant advantage, as it can greatly influence and help shape user behavior on a large scale."

"This [results placement] change is important and goes to the heart of how people access information, how they shop, how they travel, and how decisions get made. Many of those decisions now start online, and often with a search."

"Google's move in the EU could result in more third-party services featured more prominently, which improves visibility and supports competition. Over time, that usually amounts to a net positive benefitting consumers. It gives them more choices and reduces the influence of any single platform quietly steering outcomes."

Search result placement significantly influences user behavior and decision-making, as users typically trust top-ranked results without questioning them. Google's changes in the EU aim to feature third-party services more prominently, enhancing their visibility and supporting competitive market dynamics. This reordering reduces the dominance of any single platform in shaping user outcomes across shopping, travel, and information access. The shift provides consumers with expanded choices and diminishes the ability of platforms to subtly direct decisions, ultimately creating competitive advantages for alternative services and benefiting users through increased options.

Read at Computerworld