If you’re in the UK (and many other countries) and you go to the standard Google homepage today this is what you’ll see. The Google logo change today refers to the announcement yesterday of the discovery of a fossil that provides evidence of the “missing link” between today’s higher primates- monkeys, apes and humans – and more distant relatives. Click on the logo and it will cleverly link you to search results for the ‘missing link’. It’s certainly not the first time we’ve seen the Google logo changed, but as far as I’m aware (correct me if I’m wrong) it’s the first time it’s been changed in relation to news such as this.
Changing of the logo is usually reserved for non controversial significant dates such as Shakespeare’s birthday or St Patrick’s day. I wonder if the direct referral to Darwin (in the hover over text on the logo) will upset any creationists visiting the Google homepage today? However, I guess it’s only fair as you will see Google logo changes for Christmas and Easter. A while back I heard that brands had tried to buy the chance to rebrand the Google logo for a day, but were told this was against Google policy. Does this move demonstrate the that the Google homepage is becoming less sacred, or that Google might potentially influence users through its logo redesigns?
Millions of people will see the Google logo every day and Google could exert some serious influence (intentionally or unintentionally) based upon what ever message they choose, as well as the message they choose not to deliver. However, if Google make a habit of pushing information via the homepage (intentionally or unintentionally) they might end up harming their brand and consequently lose their potential influence. There is no denying Google has huge power and potential influence, but maybe thanks to the digital world google itself has helped create abusing this power might only result in this power being taken away.
4 Comments
May 20, 2009 at 11:38 am
Ha! cool. Same in Sweden. I think it’s brilliant. It says two things (of course this is what popped up in my head and it’s individual); The missing link…. google is links. Basically. And, we’re relevant, up to date and in the greatest context there is, namely EVERYTHING and anything.
May 20, 2009 at 11:56 am
Don’t get me wrong I think it’s pretty clever and actually like what they’ve done.
But I’m just not sure Google should get into the habit of featuring news stories on their Homepage, even if it’s not their intention to actually promote the story, as it will be promoted regardless of their intentions.
May 20, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Absolutely a subject. something for them to think about.
June 29, 2009 at 9:09 am
[...] this sounds familiar that because it is. Occasionally Google has been known change their logo for various holidays and special events such as earth day. Users clicking on these special logos [...]