Centre Daily Times Logo

Google not always reliable | Centre Daily Times

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Archives
    • Contact Us
    • Plus
    • eEdition
    • Newsletters
    • Subscribe
    • About Us
    • Local
    • Penn State
    • Sandusky Scandal
    • Communities
    • Crime
    • Business
    • Education
    • Politics
    • Public Records
    • State
    • Nation/World
    • Weird News
    • Sports
    • College
    • Golf
    • High School
    • MLB
    • Motorsports
    • NFL
    • NHL
    • Outdoors
    • Penn State
    • State College Spikes
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • PSU Sports
    • PSU Football
    • PSU Basketball
    • PSU Baseball
    • PSU Hockey
    • PSU Soccer
    • PSU Volleyball
    • PSU Wrestling
    • Nittany Lines Blog
  • Penn State Football
    • Living
    • Announcements
    • Family Pages
    • Eat, Play, Live
    • Home & Garden
    • Entertainment
    • Weekender
    • Comics
    • Games & Puzzles
    • Celebrities
    • Horoscopes
    • Movie News & Reviews
    • Music
    • TV
    • Opinion
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Submit a Letter
  • Obituaries

  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place An Ad
  • Mobile & Apps

Letters to the Editor

Google not always reliable

Do you know what happens if you Google the phrase “proof that the earth is flat?”

You get more than 23,000,000 hits, with many of them asserting that there is “proof” that the earth is flat, citing NASA “classified” images and experiments you can do at home.

However, I would assume that most CDT readers do not believe the world is flat, despite the results of this Google search.

Driving home each day, I pass a sign that instructs passers-by to Google the negative effects of vaccines. Certainly, if you conduct a Google search for the negative effects of vaccines, you will find several hits. However, if you conduct a library search, based on research and data, you will find that vaccines are healthy, safe and an important component of community well-being.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Centre Daily Times

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

As health providers, we must promote practices that are research-based and represent best practices. Encouraging Google searches promotes fear and misunderstanding, rather than informing the community of actual benefits and risks. My only hope is that my fellow residents understand the shortcomings in gathering information in this way, and do not rely on misinformation to make health-related decisions.

Melissa Hunter, Bellefonte

The writer holds a Ph.D. and is a licensed psychologist.

  Comments  

Videos

Penn State football players dance at Thon 2019 pep rally

Michal Menet on Penn State’s offseason ‘attitude and mentality’

View More Video

Trending Stories

Penn State wrestler Jason Nolf still full of surprises in dominant win over Michigan State

February 15, 2019 10:59 PM

Jury returns verdict in child rape trial for Mifflin County man

February 15, 2019 01:36 PM

Penn State assistant coach Phil Galiano leaving to pursue NFL opportunity

February 15, 2019 09:20 AM

Downtown State College has lost some iconic restaurants. What do the replacements offer?

February 15, 2019 11:32 AM

Thon 2019 kicks off with surprise performance by Andy Grammer

February 15, 2019 10:20 PM

things to do

Read Next

Letters to the Editor

Letters: What’s the history of State High alma mater?; Sexist ad had no place at Penn State

By CDT readers

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 14, 2019 08:20 PM

Centre Daily Times readers express opinion about EPA, Penn State and more.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Centre Daily Times

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the Editor

Letters: Blame for offensive ad falls to Penn State; UConn has much to prove to fan base

February 13, 2019 08:54 PM

Letters to the Editor

Letters: Rule changes needed in Pa. legislature; carelessness shown over ad at Penn State

February 13, 2019 10:57 AM

Letters to the Editor

Letters: Paterno’s Saudi Arabia connection; state of emergency was warranted

February 09, 2019 07:22 PM

Letters to the Editor

Letters: Thankful after tragedy; Sunday hunting is a property rights issue

February 09, 2019 07:21 PM

Letters to the Editor

Letters: Get used to polar vortex effects; New York abortion law protects women’s health

February 08, 2019 09:02 AM

Letters to the Editor

Letters: Penn State saw something, said nothing; Thompson took the right action on horse legislation

February 07, 2019 08:49 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Centre Daily Times App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Photo Store
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • Place an Obituary
  • Today's Circulars
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story