In the wake of the Department of Justice's antitrust suit against Google, a New York Times column by Brian Chen set out to demonstrate the real-world implications of one of the government’s key allegations that Google makes it too hard to choose an alternative search engine. However, real-world people don’t seem to share Chen’s or the DOJ’s concern.

The article, published on September 20, 2023, delves into Google's dominance in the search engine market and the alleged challenges users face when attempting to switch to alternative search providers. Chen consulted with “design experts” and concluded that it is too “hard to switch—and most people would probably give up before completing the change.”

Readers came forward to refute the article's claims in the article’s comment section, emphasizing the ease with which they can alternate between search engines. A prevailing sentiment among the comments is succinctly encapsulated by one user: "Whether you like Google or not, switching search engines is not a big challenge."

The DOJ claims that Google has unlawfully leveraged its partnerships with mobile device manufacturers, computer makers, and browser developers to suppress competition in the online search market. According to the Justice Department, these partnerships have enabled Google to establish its search engine as the default service on a vast majority of consumer electronic devices, such as smartphones. This, in turn, has discouraged users from exploring other search engine options like Bing, DuckDuckGo, and more.

Despite Chen’s and the DOJ’s assertions that Google has made it near impossible to switch browsers, users emphasize the simplicity of the process, stating, "I’m sorry, but if you’re not able to swipe up two times to find your Safari settings you should not be legally allowed to own and operate a smartphone." 

This sentiment was echoed by another user who found the process straightforward compared to other tasks, saying, "Compared to changing operating systems, cable providers, or unsubscribing from a newspaper, changing the default search engine sounds like a breeze."

Several users shared their experiences, noting that they had no trouble accessing alternative search engines like DuckDuckGo or Bing with a single click. "I regularly switch back and forth between Google and Duck Duck Go on my iPhone and computer. It takes no time at all. I’m not understanding the difficulty being described," one user remarked.

The debate also brought forth discussions about user preferences and the quality of search results. Many users admitted to reverting to Google after trying other search engines due to their preference for Google's results and layout. "The moment other search engines give better results than Google, I will switch. It’s not rocket science."

While the DOJ has one view as to why so many people use Google, if the smattering of folks responding to Mr. Chen’s article are in any way representative of the population at large; it would seem more likely that people use their given search engine not because they’re forced to but because it’s convenient and helpful.