{
  "id": 10168929,
  "title": "Google turns 28: 10 things the company wrote down when it was young and still follows",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/google-turns-28-10-things-the-company-wrote-down-when-it-was-young",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-27T06:31:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/google-turns-28-10-things-that-google-says-it-first-wrote-when-it-was-just-a-few-years-old-and-you-can-still-hold-the-company-to/articleshow/134515877.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Google celebrated its 28th birthday today. The tech giant still adheres to a list of principles it penned during its early days, known as \"Ten things we know to be true.\" This list was originally written when Google was just a few years old and has been revisited throughout the company's history. Google claims to use the list to ensure these principles remain relevant, with the company stating, \"you can hold us to that.\"\n\nFrom prioritizing users and speed to their stance on advertising, access to information, work culture, and constant innovation, these 10 points outline what Google intended to stand for when it first began. Some of these principles are closely linked to Google's search business, while others address broader aspects of product development and operations. Here are the 10 principles Google claimed it first wrote down when it was still a young company:\n\n1. Focus on the user and all else will follow. From the outset, Google has been dedicated to delivering the best user experience possible, whether it's a new browser or a simple homepage design. Their goal is to ensure that all services are user-centric, with clear interfaces, instant loading pages, and advertising that is both relevant and non-disruptive.\n\n2. It's best to do one thing really, really well. Google's focus is on search, and they have invested heavily in refining this core function. With a vast research group dedicated to solving search-related problems, Google has solved complex issues and continuously improved their search service, enhancing accessibility to information for millions worldwide.\n\n3. Fast is better than slow. Google is acutely aware of the value of time, particularly when users are searching for information online. The company has optimized web pages and improved the efficiency of their servers, setting speed records and ensuring that search results appear almost instantaneously. This speed-focused approach extends to all their products, including mobile applications and the Chrome browser.\n\n4. Democracy on the web works. Google's search engine relies on the collective input of millions of users who submit links to help determine the value and relevance of other websites. Google's search algorithm, including the PageRank™ system, analyzes this web of links to rank and display the most valuable information. Google also contributes to open-source software development, leveraging collective programming efforts to drive innovation.\n\n5. You don't need to be at your desk to need an answer. As society becomes increasingly mobile, Google has developed technologies to cater to this shift. Their mobile solutions allow users to access services like email, calendars, videos, and search from their phones, while Android, an open-source mobile platform, brings the internet's openness to the mobile world, benefiting both consumers and businesses.\n\n6. You can make money without doing evil. Google is a business that generates revenue through search technology licensing and advertising. Advertisers worldwide use Google Ads, and publishers benefit from AdSense, which delivers targeted ads on Google and partner sites. Google has strict guidelines to ensure ads are relevant and non-disruptive, maintaining a balance between profitability and user experience.",
  "summary": "Google has reached its 28th anniversary, honoring foundational principles that guide its operations today. These principles emphasize user focus, speed, and the importance of democracy on the web. The company has continuously innovated to enhance access to information globally, catering to diverse languages and needs. Google's commitment to ethical advertising practices and mobile technology…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}