Not for the first time, and probably not the last, at around 10:45 this morning Google.com went down. Understandably that represents something of an issue for many people, not least search specialists.
Once again though, the Twitter tweets lit up with concerned Google users almost instantaneously enquiring about the issue.
This not only highlights the fallibility of the world’s most popular search engine, but also the increasing diversity with which the world shares information and news. Fortunately Google remained down for only 15 minutes, although the consternation was evident – at least amongst Twitter users – and was doubtless fuelled by those who use it as their go-to source for information and statistics.
Search itself doesn’t stand still. When something happens to the leading source, be it an ecommerce, business or search site, there are almost always alternatives available. Those desperate to find content online still have the option to use Ask, MSN, Yahoo (as highlighted by one of the Twitterati on the above example, albeit slightly tongue in cheek) or any of the smaller search engines out there.
This, perhaps more than anything else, highlights the need to have a variety of sources when it comes to information gathering. Over reliance on one source can leave you high and dry, particularly in the turbulent world of the Internet.
What do you think?