What Exactly is DuckDuckGo?

Since the introduction of the PDPA, or the Personal Data Protection Act in Thailand, people have become more aware of their rights and cautious about protecting their data. 

DuckDuckGo is a search engine platform that protects personal data usage and does not track data. It now has more than 100 million daily active users. Today, we will introduce DuckDuckGo, how it differs from other platforms, and why so many people are using it.  

What is DuckDuckGo?

DuckDuckGo is a search engine that was founded by Gabriel Weinberg and launched in 2008. This platform might seem similar to other platforms, but the way this platform protects data makes it different from others, especially Google. 

The Story of DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo is the search engine platform of Duck Duck Go, Inc., located in Pennsylvania, USA. There are 124 employees globally, according to updated information from 2022.

Gabriel Weinberg had the vision to design a privacy-friendly search engine because he disagreed with search engines collecting data. As a result, DuckDuckGo allows users to search for their requirements without tracking their data.

DuckDuckGo is available through web browsers, such as Chrome, Safari, or Firefox, by typing duckduckgo.com and searching for the information that you are looking for, such as websites, photos, videos, news, and maps.

The Success of DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo has become increasingly popular in the past 2-3 years. As of February 2017, the number of users was 15 million per day, and by November 2017, that figure was around 20 million per day. Today, they have more than 100 million users per day, which makes it only second to Google.

DuckDuckGo’s Income Generation

Google dominates the online market, so DuckDuckGo increases brand awareness and boosts its income through offline marketing, which focuses on teasing Google via billboard messaging across the USA, especially in California. The ads’ messages emphasise the security of the DuckDuckGo platform, which Google cannot provide. This is how DuckDuckGo promotes itself and increases its users.

Moreover, DuckDuckGo earns an income from banner ads, but they do not collect data for re-targeting purposes.

Another way they generate income is through their affiliation with e-marketplace platforms such as Amazon and eBay. Once the user searches on the DuckDuckGo platform and then purchases products from Amazon or eBay, DuckDuckGo gains revenue. 

DuckDuckGo’s Income Generation

Google dominates the online market, so DuckDuckGo increases brand awareness and boosts its income through offline marketing, which focuses on teasing Google via billboard messaging across the USA, especially in California. The ads’ messages emphasise the security of the DuckDuckGo platform, which Google cannot provide. This is how DuckDuckGo promotes itself and increases its users.

Moreover, DuckDuckGo earns an income from banner ads, but they do not collect data for re-targeting purposes.

Another way they generate income is through their affiliation with e-marketplace platforms such as Amazon and eBay. Once the user searches on the DuckDuckGo platform and then purchases products from Amazon or eBay, DuckDuckGo gains revenue. 

The Disadvantages of DuckDuckGo

As DuckDuckGo doesn’t track personal data or collect search history, it cannot show tailored or relevant content based on your previous searches. In contrast, Google is able to collect its users’ search history and adjust the search results based on their interests. This point might be deemed a disadvantage for some, but many consider the data privacy and protection offered to be more important.

Conclusion

DuckDuckGo provides many benefits; it does not track user data, provides two-factor authentication, and blocks spam ads. Users in Thailand can easily access DuckDuckGo via Safari and Google Chrome.

If you would like to incorporate DuckDuckGo into your business plan, contact Primal Digital Agency. We have a team of 150 digital marketing professionals waiting to take your business to the next level. Keep up with the changing needs of customers by working with a forward-thinking digital agency like Primal. Get in touch today.