Britons ‘not understanding search engines’

Most Brits don’t have a clue how search engines work according to a new study - but they did reveal what type of results they prefer.

Research by Fasthosts Internet found that seven out of ten either gave the wrong answer when asked on the mechanics of search or none at all.

Just 29 per cent were able to rightly say that the ordering of results was down to relevance and search engine optimisation - despite 97 per cent reporting that they frequently search online.

Many people thought that the ordering of results depended on how much they had paid the search engine in question.

However, users did report that they prefer organic results, with one in three actually ignoring paid-for links.

‘It’s remarkable that the majority of Britons rely heavily on search engines but do not understand how they work,’ said the firm’s chief marketing officer Steve Holford.

‘By knowing a little about how and why results are ordered, users can better determine which content will be of most value to them.’