Google SMU = Get NTU?
March 19, 2008 – 12:49 pm | by Daryl TayGoogle SMU Singapore (Singapore Management University) now and you’ll get this result (click for bigger picture):
The top result? A fake paid link by NTU (Nanyang Technological University). I understand Google can be gamed, but do we really need to do this? Is it bordering on unethical behavior? What do you think?
Edit: Note that I’m not making a big deal out of NTU appearing on an SMU search. It happens with Google and it’s okay. The point is that the paid link says “SMU Singapore” but the URL link is “ntu.edu.sg”. Clearly misleading.
Tags: fake paid links, gaming google, Google, ntu, nus, sim, Singapore, singapore management university, singapore universities, SMU, unethical search
7 Responses to “Google SMU = Get NTU?”
By shans on Mar 19, 2008 | Reply
I’m disgusted with my school!
By Google SMU Gets NTU on Mar 21, 2008 | Reply
Online advertising is something new to these people. This year appears to be the first time NTU and NUS have been advertising on MSN Messenger, Adwords, Facebook, etc. Too harsh to make the accusation of pretending to be the competitor against relative noobs at this new media.
By Daryl Tay on Mar 21, 2008 | Reply
Sorry but I disagree. Searches for NUS Singapore and SIM Singapore also have NTU sites, but they are clearly labeled NTU and not SMU.
It could be a genuine mistake but the second point I’m making (and it’s very clear if you read my posts), is that NTU should say something about it.
Also, MSN Messenger ads have been used last year for the universities too. So it’s not 100% new.