Healthy Skepticism Library item: 15332

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Masoni M, Guelfi MR, Gensini GF.
Google needs better control of its advertisements and suggested links
BMJ 2009 Mar 18; 338:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/338/mar18_1/b1083

Abstract:

Searching for information is one of the most popular uses of the internet, and medical information is among the types of information that are most sought. Therefore how internet search engines present sources of information to users is important. As the internet is not well policed and regulated, it is up to members of the medical community to be vigilant and to suggest improvements.

Google, the most popular internet search engine, earns much of its revenue from advertisements related to search terms entered into it. We have noticed that Google’s sponsored links are sometimes to web pages that contain worrying medical claims. On 19 January 2009 we used Google Italia to search on the keyword “aloe.” On the first page of results two sponsored links appeared at the top of the page. The first one said (in Italian): “Aloe vera or arborescens? http://www.aziendaagricolaghignone.it. To purify use aloe