Skip to main content

Google instant blacklisted words revealed

Google
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’ve visited Google recently you will have notice a change in their search functionality. Now when you type in a search term you will generally see the results of that search dynamically generated as you type. Google Instant makes searching easier and more intuitive without ever having to click the search button.

There’s only one issue: Google Instant has blacklisted a variety of terms, largely sexual, that it will not dynamically generate searches for. In those cases users have to click on the search button to see their results.

This was reported by 2600, which compiled a user generated list of blacklisted search terms.

Oddly there are a great deal of inconsistencies on the list:  “lesbian” is blocked, but “gay” is not. “Cocaine” and “domination” are also blocked, but Google is cool with “crack” and “heroin”.

As PC Magazine reported, Google acknowledges the issue:

“It’s important to note that removing queries from autocomplete is a hard problem, and not as simple as blacklisting particular terms and phrases,” a Google spokesperson told PC Magazine. “In search, we get more than one billion searches each day. Because of this, we take an algorithmic approach to removals, and just like our search algorithms, these are imperfect.”


Editors' Recommendations

Laura Khalil
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Laura is a tech reporter for Digital Trends, the editor of Dorkbyte and a science blogger for PBS. She's been named one of…
How to draw on Google Docs to add doodles, sketches, and more
The Google Play Store, YouTube, and Google Docs installed on an Amazon Fire Max 11.

Word processing software isn’t the kind of tool that most users would consider exciting, which is why we’re glad to see companies like Google adding a little flair to its own products. We’re talking about Google Docs, a free-to-use word processor that’s part of your larger Google Account ecosystem. Basic formatting options and other familiar word processing functions are front and center on Google Docs, but the ability to add doodles, sketches, and other entertaining media to your next Docs file requires a special bit of know-how.

Read more
A new Google Pixel Tablet is coming, but it’s not what you think
Google Pixel Tablet on its charging dock.

It's been almost a year since the Google Pixel Tablet went up for preorder, leading many Android tablet fans to wonder when the inevitable Pixel Tablet 2 will arrive. A new rumor suggests that Google could release a new Pixel Tablet as early as next month, but it's probably not what you were expecting or hoping for.

According to @MysteryLupin on X (formerly Twitter), Google is planning to "relaunch" the Pixel Tablet without the charging/speaker dock included in the box. As you'll likely recall, the speaker dock is the Pixel Tablet's standout feature. You can use the Pixel Tablet on its own as a traditional Android tablet when you want, and when you're done, you throw it on the dock to transform it into a smart display. The idea of Google selling the Pixel Tablet without its claim to fame is an interesting one.

Read more
The best resume templates for Google Docs
2010 career building tips resume

During these times of heavy competition in the job market, you want to be sure that your résumé stands out as much as possible. There are many resources online to assist you in building a stellar résumé, especially using templates compatible with Google Docs.

Many people like Google Docs résumé templates because they allow for easy editing and customization of résumés. You have the option to input your résumé information, or if you’re a bit more advanced, you can make edits to the actual template. Google has several default résumé templates within Google Docs, and you can also upload many popular third-party templates into Google Drive for editing.

Read more