Yahoo is allowing to block unwanted search results
Recently I’ve noticed that Yahoo! allows blocking unwanted search results for future searches. Clicking the “block” link you prevent the result from showing up, when you will perform searches again.
We can conclude that Yahoo is using this data to build Bayesian filtering database for personalized web searching. While people are blocking and saving sites to http://myweb.search.yahoo.com/, the filter learns what surfers consider spam or relevant.
I think this data can influence general Yahoo! search rankings in future.
However, it is more likely that Bayesian filter will remain an implement for personal searches, because some users may want or unwant various sites for personal reasons. It’s quite enough for users, who always search with help of Yahoo! and are using personalized search and insignificant for those, who uses Yahoo! occasionally. Training filter on user IP definition basis will protect Yahoo! from spam usage of “block” button.
Filed under: Yahoo and MSN