this post was submitted on 27 May 2026
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DuckDuckGo installs are up 30% as users reject being ‘force-fed’ Google’s AI Search (techcrunch.com)
submitted 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to c/technology@lemmy.world
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EDIIT :

Apparently, there is an issue with the warning request to disable the ad blocker

I use Fennec F-Droid and Cromite, and I don't see this issue.

to get around the adblocker warning, use this link.

https://unwall.app/techcrunch.com/2026/05/26/duckduckgo-installs-are-up-30-as-users-reject-being-force-fed-googles-ai-search/

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[–] infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net 106 points 9 hours ago (4 children)

...Installs?

Do they know there's a website?

[–] pHr34kY@lemmy.world 46 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

You don't even need the website. I just set the default search engine to DDG in my browser.

A search app makes zero sense to me.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 10 minutes ago)

The DDG app is pretty cool though. It has free app tracking protection.

As a tangent, it's kind of insane that the NPR app seems to always have like 10x tracking attempts vs tiktok.

[–] takeda@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 5 hours ago

The reason why companies like to push apps over websites is that apps can gather more information about you. Not saying DDG does this, but it is weird.

For their defense this could be to place search bar on main screen, as looks like Google no longer allows to switch to a different search engine in their default launcher.

[–] markko@lemmy.world 16 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

There are too many damn apps already imo, but apparently some people like having as many as possible

DuckDuckGo said U.S. app installs went up 18.1% week-over-week on average during the May 20 to May 25 period, compared to May 13 to May 18. The company said that growth was sustained for six consecutive days and peaked at 30.5% on May 25. On iOS, the rate of install is even higher, with week-over-week growth hitting a 33% average, peaking at 69.9%.

[–] bananabread@lemmy.zip 7 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Well, in this case it helps to override my default search engine on my phone.

[–] RichardDegenne@lemmy.zip 4 points 4 hours ago

ngl, I never thought about changing the default search engine on Android. That was the last place where I was still using Google.

Installing the DDG app right now 😂

[–] Tattorack@lemmy.world 2 points 5 hours ago

I think DDO has its own Firefox fork.

[–] psx_crab@lemmy.zip 6 points 8 hours ago

From Chrome to DDG browser likely. Google also have a website but people still install Chrome for it, the lastest AI thing might be the final straw for people to finally looking for the alternative