Google Analytics removed

[Schweddy]

All,

We have made the decision to remove Google analytics from the website. It was originally turned on to help with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and improve our ranking.
It was always anonymous data.

Our thoughts:
1. We NEVER used it.
2. Google has downgraded us in the rankings.
3. Google has abandoned us via search engine bots.

 

[PirateMk1]

All,

We have made the decision to remove Google analytics from the website. It was originally turned on to help with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and improve our ranking.
It was always anonymous data.

Our thoughts:
1. We NEVER used it.
2. Google has downgraded us in the rankings.
3. Google has abandoned us via search engine bots.

I am just a dummy here, but what is number 3 all about? I don't know how all that works so I am curious as to how the abandonment works and the reason why they would.

 

[Schweddy]

I am just a dummy here, but what is number 3 all about? I don't know how all that works so I am curious as to how the abandonment works and the reason why they would.

Google used to have a bunch of little robots reviewing all our public posts and putting them in their results so people could find us with different terms.

February of last year, Google decided that forums (Reddit is exception) would be downgraded and they started showing much less results for forums when folks search terms.
Recently, unsure of the date, those little bots stopped coming around.

When we reviewed why, there was no answer on Googles analytics page but also found that a ton of other forums are having the same issue.

 

[TypicalRussian]

ok

 

[PirateMk1]

Google used to have a bunch of little robots reviewing all our public posts and putting them in their results so people could find us with different terms.

February of last year, Google decided that forums (Reddit is exception) would be downgraded and they started showing much less results for forums when folks search terms.
Recently, unsure of the date, those little bots stopped coming around.

When we reviewed why, there was no answer on Googles analytics page but also found that a ton of other forums are having the same issue.

Thanks for the explanation. I wonder why they decided to do that. Google doing google things I suppose.

 

[soap box]

Google used to have a bunch of little robots reviewing all our public posts and putting them in their results so people could find us with different terms.

February of last year, Google decided that forums (Reddit is exception) would be downgraded and they started showing much less results for forums when folks search terms.
Recently, unsure of the date, those little bots stopped coming around.

When we reviewed why, there was no answer on Googles analytics page but also found that a ton of other forums are having the same issue.

I tested it with a search for "debate political" and "debate of politics" and the title itself and you're right, I went 20 pages and I couldn't find us on Google or Chrome. I will install G Daddy and test it as a variable to see if the same terms lead to here.

We appreciate the explanation and we understand DP never used it . I want to ask if this means Google was collecting data , even while DP wasn't.

Would the downgrade suggest a motive to suppress smaller media platforms like DP?

 

[PoS]

Good. Google is a monopolistic tyranny. Less people supports them the better.

 

[ttwtt78640]

Thanks for the explanation. I wonder why they decided to do that. Google doing google things I suppose.

Likely to reduce the number of sources they use to produce ‘popular’ search results. The fewer sources that their search bots include, the more ‘popular’ other media sources will automagically become.

 

[MaryP]

Likely to reduce the number of sources they use to produce ‘popular’ search results. The fewer sources that their search bots include, the more ‘popular’ other media sources will automagically become.

Ouch

 

[Chagos]

All,

We have made the decision to remove Google analytics from the website. It was originally turned on to help with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and improve our ranking.
It was always anonymous data.

Our thoughts:
1. We NEVER used it.
2. Google has downgraded us in the rankings.
3. Google has abandoned us via search engine bots.

Glad (and much relieved) to see that you haven't replaced them with Cambridge Analytics.

j/k

 

[Schweddy]

I tested it with a search for "debate political" and "debate of politics" and the title itself and you're right, I went 20 pages and I couldn't find us on Google or Chrome. I will install G Daddy and test it as a variable to see if the same terms lead to here.

Would be interested in more if you find.

We appreciate the explanation and we understand DP never used it . I want to ask if this means Google was collecting data , even while DP wasn't.

Yes, but it was 100% anonymous data including IP. Without getting too technical, the last 6 digits were yanked off before sending.
We could basically tell country and likely states. We realized a few weeks ago that we hadn't even logged into analytics in a very long time.

DP has never nor will ever track users.

It breaks the idea of discussion with anonymity.

Would the downgrade suggest a motive to suppress smaller media platforms like DP?

Yes, it also appears to have suppressed blogs and smaller websites as well. The top results are paid for.

I'll let folks decide for themselves if Googles move is political.

If you want better results, use https://search.brave.com. If you want psuedo private results, use duckduckgo.com , note this is based on Bing search .

I personally use https://kagi.com (well worth the $5 a month) and top notch results. [not affiliated nor is this an ad]

 

[Schweddy]

Glad (and much relieved) to see that you haven't replaced them with Cambridge Analytics.

j/k

LOL.

I don't think we need any analytics at all personally.

 

[soap box]

Would be interested in more if you find.


Yes, but it was 100% anonymous data including IP. Without getting too technical, the last 6 digits were yanked off before sending.
We could basically tell country and likely states. We realized a few weeks ago that we hadn't even logged into analytics in a very long time.

DP has never nor will ever track users.

It breaks the idea of discussion with anonymity.


Yes, it also appears to have suppressed blogs and smaller websites as well. The top results are paid for.

I'll let folks decide for themselves if Googles move is political.

If you want better results, use https://search.brave.com. If you want psuedo private results, use duckduckgo.com , note this is based on Bing search .

I personally use https://kagi.com (well worth the $5 a month) and top notch results. [not affiliated nor is this an ad]

Thanks, I understand this much better now. If I get a chance today, I want to dive into this further. And I'm such a technoclutz I confused go daddy with Duck duckgo.
Thanks for this

 

[soap box]

Likely to reduce the number of sources they use to produce ‘popular’ search results. The fewer sources that their search bots include, the more ‘popular’ other media sources will automagically become.

That would explain a plausible motive for Google to do this.

 

[Airyaman]

Well, if nothing else, we're #8 here:

Top 30 Political Forums in 2025

List of the top Political Forums. Keep up with the latest political discussion and message boards from all around the world. Subscribe the list to get all the updates about the Political Forums

forums.feedspot.com

 

[multivita-man]

Thanks for the explanation. I wonder why they decided to do that. Google doing google things I suppose.

My hunches are 1) increased privacy 2) increased focus of results for for-profit sites, paying customers

 

[soap box]

Likely to reduce the number of sources they use to produce ‘popular’ search results. The fewer sources that their search bots include, the more ‘popular’ other media sources will automagically become.

If I have time I'll try the other search engine that was recommended, but if the game is on you can find me at the nfl 2023 thread.

I saw @Airyaman found us. But they got it wrong since DP is #1.
Being a link on a page and not from a search engine is a clue.

 

[mrjurrs]

Thanks for the explanation. I wonder why they decided to do that. Google doing google things I suppose.

When you are the biggest dog in the yard, you don't have to have a reason.

 

[The Mark]

Google used to have a bunch of little robots reviewing all our public posts and putting them in their results so people could find us with different terms.

February of last year, Google decided that forums (Reddit is exception) would be downgraded and they started showing much less results for forums when folks search terms.
Recently, unsure of the date, those little bots stopped coming around.

When we reviewed why, there was no answer on Googles analytics page but also found that a ton of other forums are having the same issue.

Probably not enough advertising as a result.

 

[Mr Person]

Well, if nothing else, we're #8 here:

Top 30 Political Forums in 2025

List of the top Political Forums. Keep up with the latest political discussion and message boards from all around the world. Subscribe the list to get all the updates about the Political Forums

forums.feedspot.com

No, no, no. No.

I did not need a list of political forums. That is not what I needed. What I need is more hours per day.

 

[Demon]

I just searched google for political debate forums, and DP was the 2nd one that came up.

 

[The AntiDonald]

My hunches are 1) increased privacy 2) increased focus of results for for-profit sites, paying customers

Isn't money what it always boils down to?

 

[multivita-man]

Isn't money what it always boils down to?

Google's basically throwing it in our faces now.

 

[Old 'N Chill]

Google used to have a bunch of little robots reviewing all our public posts and putting them in their results so people could find us with different terms.

February of last year, Google decided that forums (Reddit is exception) would be downgraded and they started showing much less results for forums when folks search terms.
Recently, unsure of the date, those little bots stopped coming around.

When we reviewed why, there was no answer on Googles analytics page but also found that a ton of other forums are having the same issue.

Thanks for the info and explanation.

 

[Old 'N Chill]

I just searched google for political debate forums, and DP was the 2nd one that came up.

I just googled political forums and we were third listed. I left out debate.