Google vs. Bing

About

Google vs. Bing refers to a series of memes parodying the perceived difference in search results which search engines Google and Bing produce, especially on search requests which could be put in by persons intending to harm themselves or others, such as suicide and drug and explosives manufacturing. The memes present Bing as a search engine that would interpret the request in a straightforward way and present respective results, while Google would first show results that could dissuade the searcher from dealing any harm.

Origin

On March 31st, 2010, Google introduced a tweak to search results produced when a user puts in a search request for ways of committing suicide and similar searches, with the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline being shown first. On April 4th, 2010, The New York Times reported on the change.^[1]

In the following years, multiple online sources reported on differences in the results the search changes produce when user puts a search request for suicide methods or other similar requests, including articles by WebProNews, Daily Dot and Vice.^[2][3][4]

On September 21st, 2012, Tumblr user jonnovstehinternet posted the first meme highlighting the difference in "how to commit suicide" search results provided by Google and Bing (shown below).^[5] The post, which used Good Guy Greg and Scumbag Steve memes, gained over 109,600 likes and reblogs in seven years.

Spread

On the same day, Cheezburger user stephenwood51 reposted the combined image to the site,^[6] where it gained over 4,900 thumbs up in seven years. In the following years, the image was reposted multiple times on Reddit, Twitter and other online platforms.^[7]

On April 17th, 2018, Imgur user Imadethisaccounttopost posted a comparison of results produced by Bing and Google upon "easiest way to suicide" search request which gained over 240,400 views and 6,900 points on the platform.^[8]

On September 27th, 2019, during the popularity of Google Page Two memes, Redditor mr-blvck posted a Why Are You Booing Me? I'm Right meme comparing Google and Bing "easiest way to suicide" search results, with the post gaining over 13,700 upvotes in /r/me_irl subreddit (shown below, left),^[9] which prompted further spread of memes comparing Bing and Google search results in the following weeks, with the format reaching significant popularity on Reddit in mid-October 2019. For example, a meme posted by Redditor Grat_ on October 2nd, 2019, gained over 40,900 upvotes in two weeks (shown below, center).^[10] A The Secret Ingredient Is Crime meme posted by Redditor GGisno on October 15th received over 37,900 upvotes in one days (shown below, right).^[11]

The spread of the meme was covered by several outlets, including a collection article by Cheezburger.^[12]

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References