by Jacek Korneluk

Preparing to write this article I was looking for the best title possible. The topic I choose is quite important IMO, but many of you are not fully aware of it, or even consider it Taboo.

So, I scratched my head a couple of times and also decided to ask my AI personal assistant to clear my thoughts and help with the best title. And it is what it/she says to me:

“Beyond Google – How Different Browsers Offer Unique Views of the Internet”

” Understanding the Layers of the Internet from Surface to Deep Net”

” How Your Choice of Browser Affects What You See Online”

“The Web’s Iceberg – What Lies Beneath the Surface of Your Browser”

Do you have a memory of ordering your favourite item on one browser and ending up receiving a decent discount, while another browser left you paying full price? So, do I.

It is interesting how one web-browser can deliver you a completely different outcome and experience from another. Isn’t it?

This is not just about getting pizza deals. It is a definitely about more serious issue to consider.

To cut to the cheese is it about how your browser can significantly impact and filter your access to all types of information online.

Consider all types of browsers as your personal digital gateway. Your window to the internet access.

Whether you’re a Chrome or Google addict, Microsoft Edge adherent, a Firefox fan, a Brave advocate, an Opera user, or just someone who sticks with Safari, each browser has its own way of translating the web’s complex code into the colourful pages we all love to scroll through.

But here’s the hook – they do not all work and deliver outcomes it the same way.

Their design differs. The purpose is to deliver partly limited and filtered content.

Most people are totally unaware of this fact, furthermore they do not even consider using different browsers. What for mate? (as one of my digital business advisers said to me). One browser is enough, why would you need more?

By the way, I love that Genesis song (In Your Wardrobe).

But back to the main topic of different browsers.

Chrome is known for its speed and integration with Google services, making it a heavyweight champion for many users.

Microsoft Edge is perfect for all Microsoft applications and ecosystem. It is a fast, secure, and very modern browser.

Firefox, on the other hand, offers robust privacy tools that are great for those who want to keep their browsing under wraps.

Brave is an open-source web browser based on Chromium. It is a privacy focused type of web-browser which blocks most advertisements and website trackers. It offers a lot of new features as crypto wallet and crypto rewards.

Opera is a multi-platform browser based on Chromium as well. Fast, secure, and versatile. With multiple features like AI and VPN included.

DuckDuckGo is an independent internet privacy company focused on privacy. It offers extensions for all major web-browsers. When you search it claims not to track your searches. No trade-offs too.

Safari works seamlessly on Apple devices, optimising battery, and data. It brings its own flavour to the table, affecting not just how you view content but what content you get to see.

ARC was developed by The Browser Company. It aims to act as an operating system for the web, based on chromium. It is integrating web browsing with build-in applications and futures. The unusually located and dispreading vertical tabs and sidebar give more space for a browsing window.

I found it interesting, how about you?

In general, instead of going through tons of search results pages in traditional browsers, you are receiving specific and detailed answers to your questions.

All answers are delivered in one place, often with references. Directly in your choice of AI-powered search engine itself.

Perplexity.ai is a generative answer and search engine.  Under the hood it runs on GPT models Its main feature is to provide users with straightforward answers. You are asking the question and the AI-agent sources the Internet to deliver you an answer.

(Pretty straightforward and powerfully effective. It is a new way of internet browsing.)

Microsoft Copilot & Bing is a chat-based AI assistant that integrates with the Bing search engine. By this, it offers advanced search capabilities and creative tools. It provides instant answers, image generation, multi-language content translation, and summarisation. It uses the power of GPT-4 and DALL-E 3 models.

(In terms of browser compatibility, Copilot may be available for various platforms including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, etc).

So, you like it or not the fact is that the internet browsing model is changing.

It looks like the SEO experts and Gurus may be retired to some extent with the era of new ways for designing browsers and search engines.

Absolutely, yes!

Different browsers use different algorithms to retrieve and display content, which means the information you access varies. Have you ever noticed how a search for the best smartphone deals on Bing turns up different results compared to Google?

That means your browser working with its preferred search engine to pick up what it thinks you would like to see.

But it is not just about shopping deals. This variation can impact serious research too. Some browsers are configured to prioritise certain types of news sources over others, which can subtly shape your perspective on current events without you even realising it.

The internet is like a triangular or an iceberg. What we usually access and see (I mean the social media feeds, the blogs, the news sites) it is just the tip. A small representation only.

It is called a surface net and contains about 3 -5 % of total internet content.

Beneath the surface lies the deep web which contains databases, scholarly papers, government reports, and more relevant stuff, obviously vastly larger than the surface web.

Your browser can be like your private submarine, navigating through these deep internet waters, but not all are equipped for deep-sea exploration.

Privacy-centric browsers like Tor allow users to access the deep web safely and anonymously, protecting users’ identities and offering access to information not available on the surface web.

On the other hand, mainstream browsers tend to keep you floating near the surface, good enough for daily browsing but not for diving deep.

Tor browser routing may be included in Brave browsing as an option.

However, if you ever decide to use a TOR browser, consider learning about Virtual Private Network (VPN) first.

Installing a proper VPN may be handy for more convenient internet browsing.

Every time you click a link, watch a video, or search for a recipe, your browser is learning about you.

Most browsers track your activities to some extent, using cookies and other data-gathering tools. They say it’s to enhance your browsing experience, and sometimes, that’s true.

But this data can also be used to AI-target-ads so precisely it feels like someone is reading your mind or monitoring your internet presence too.

However, not all browsers are built the same in terms of privacy.

For instance, Firefox offers extensive tracking protection straight out of the box.

Google’s Chrome, while offering some level of control, tends to collect more data due to its integration with the wider Google ecosystem. And so on.

Beyond basic browsing, different browsers offer a variety of extensions and add-ons, turning your browser from a simple tool into a powerful machine.

Do you need a way to manage passwords? There is an extension for that. Do you want to block annoying advertisements? There is an add-on for that, too.

Customising your browser can not only streamline your workflow but also secure your data and enhance privacy.

Choosing the right browser determines your online experience, from protecting your privacy to optimising your search results.

Browser is more than just a simple tool; it is a companion that controls and governs what you see and how you interact with the digital world.

So, take it for a brave ride! Try a different browser for a week, play around with the settings, adds, and a few extensions, and see how your digital life changes.

Your mind may open wider, and your senses may sharpen. You may see and understand more. At the beginning, it may be shocking when you notice the difference! But very quickly it becomes a good habit and everyday routine when looking for a reliable information source.

Welcome to a bit less centralised internet net.

I encourage you to not just stick with the familiar only but to experiment with what each browser offers. Try a few and compare the findings, then choose the one that best suits your needs. I am using about 8 different browsers, depending on which machine and system are installed, what I am looking for, and finally what I need.

It is paying off, in proper outcomes and fairly independent, objective information.

And hey, if you have any crazy browser stories or have noticed something interesting with your switch, write a short article and submit it to my guest post blog, please. Share your story with us, the internet users.

Cheers Author.

Originally published on May 19, 2024 at:

https://spektrumlab.io/why-your-browser-choices-impact-your-online-experience/