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Google makes porn harder to find with image search algorithm change

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A recent change to Google’s image search algorithm has made it harder to find porn whether users are deliberately looking for it or not.

The tech company said it made the changes earlier this week to make image search settings more simplified and in line with its Web and video settings.

“We are not censoring any adult content, and want to show users exactly what they are looking for -- but we aim not to show sexually-explicit results unless a user is specifically searching for them,” Google said in a statement.

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A spokeswoman for the company explained that in order to find what you’re looking for, you’ll need to be more explicit and descriptive about it.

That means the next time you search for “melons,” you’ll see more images of the fruit rather than that of the slang. If you want to find adult content, you’ll probably have to add the word “porn” to the end of the search.

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The change is intended to keep porn out of searches that aren’t looking for it. Regardless, some people are criticizing the Mountain View company for the change.

“Bing it is,” one user said in a Reddit thread filled with comments expressing frustration with Google.

But it hasn’t just been angry comments. Some users have handled the change with humor, too.

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“Great! Now my 21yo will spend MORE time on the internet,” said one woman on Twitter referring to how the algorithm change makes it more difficult to find porn.

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