Gotta downvote this one. It’s not even close to an unpopular opinion.
this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2024
-18 points (40.4% liked)
Unpopular Opinion
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On this platform, it absolutely is unpopular.
What’s the scope for “unpopular”?
I see it plastered everywhere, every time I see a post about browsers or websites, people are hating on Chrome (and Chromium-based derivatives) and saying we need to support Firefox. I feel like I’m the only one who doesn’t care about the monopoly.
You only need to be loud when you're trying to change things.
I do all the same with Firefox. Plus I don't have to worry about my adblock going away anytime soon (especially in mobile). I still use the Google services for work as well. I just like the FF.
Even if you don't care about your data, there's so many better options out there in terms of features and usability. The only benefit of Chrome over anything else is that you're already using it.
It's not a bad browser, the reason it's hated is because Google is using it's near total market share to push ads and other bad practices onto the entirety of the Internet. The more people aware and fighting back the better. That's why I personally no longer use chrome even though using Firefox at first was very different and a bit hard to get used to.
Chrome is a good browser, and Firefox is a good browser they're just different. They both do all those things you mentioned.
The biggest deal is that chrome is closed source, and run by a company who is literally legally required to turn a profit anyway it can because it's publicly traded. They will do whatever they have to to continue to turn a profit. Quality of the Internet or user experience be damned.
Firefox on the other hand, is made by a company that is not only not publicly traded, but it's a non-profit. Firefox is also FOSS (free and open source). Mozilla literally wrote the MPL (Mozilla public license) that's used by several different FOSS apps.
So, the options for modern browsers are:
A. Use a chromium based browser or use chrome, supporting a company who is incentivised to make everything as for profit as they possible can
Or
B. Use Firefox created and maintained by a nonprofit who is trying to push towards a more free and open Internet.
THAT is why chrome is hated.
Your opinion is exactly what they're aiming for. Just waiting for people to become complacent enough for them to take over without any resistance at all.
Chrome isn't a bad option because it's not a good browser. Their goal is to make the best browser possible so that everyone switches to it.
It's a bad option because if everyone uses a single browser, the developer of that browser owns all decisions about how the internet is allowed to be built. That isn't a good thing. Not when Microsoft tried to do it, and not while Google is trying to do it.
If Google takes over development of all browsing options (including the ones that depend on it's base code, like Edge), web-based tech will stagnate due to lack of competition (and so, a lack of the need to innovate), and privacy will disappear (even more than it already has). And good luck blocking ads in a browser that doesn't allow the addons to function.
Google has proven itself to be a company that doesn't just kill competition, but also it's own projects if they don't perform the way they want. They don't care about proper copyright protection or enforcement, they don't care about privacy, and they don't care about you (no corporation does).
Does it push Google search or does it let you choose your search engine ? Does it push advertisement to you ? Does it let you use ad_blokers ? N.B. : if it makes your dog bark in the coming months, you'll know that Google Chrome has become the Terminator.
- I use Google by default but it does let me choose a search engine — at my job I even use an internal one.
- No ads, I get more from Edge (which I use as a second browser)
- Yes to adblockers, Ublock Origin hasn’t broken yet
As someone savvy to tmwhats behind it all... I have to give you a painful upvote!