Hey, is anyone talking about the fact that Google is pretty obviously inflating their ad metrics by making the first result of your search for nearly any specific brand an ad for the exact thing you're already searching for?
The first non-sponsored result is almost always the exact same link, so the ad does nothing for actual function of advertising. It's not introducing you to the brand or directing you to it from another context, like searching for a product or something. It's literally just the thing you're already looking for. The exact thing you'd get if the ad weren't there at all.
There is no reason for the ad to exist other than to rely on people clicking the sponsored link instead of scrolling down to the non-sponsored one to pump click-through rates, which will almost certainly be people's default behavior in anyone who doesn't specifically and vigilantly avoid sponsored stuff. (...which is something I do, but I'm pretty sure even I've been gotten by it sometimes)
