We all rely on Google to help resolve the questions we have. Nonetheless, there are certain topics we should refrain from searching on this platform.
When it comes to finding out about symptoms or the latest film releases, Google remains a convenient resource for quick information access.
However, as the world’s leading search engine, there are some aspects of Google that should be cautiously approached.
Regular users often utilize Google Images. Regardless of how innocent your search intent might be, some images are better left unviewed due to their lasting impact.
Unfortunately, Google Images lacks trigger warnings, so this article serves as a gentle reminder about what terms to avoid searching.
These particular terms have been highlighted due to their unsettling nature, as reported by It’s Gone Viral in 2023.
While it might seem harmless to look up health-related information, any health concerns should be addressed by consulting a medical professional rather than relying solely on online searches.
Now, let’s discuss the specific terms you should avoid…
The term Larvae is one you should steer clear of searching.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, it refers to the ‘immature form of an insect or animal that has hatched from an egg but has not yet become an adult’.
Though this may seem like a harmless query, it can lead you to information about a condition with the same name.
WebMD explains: “Mouth larvae are parasites that hatch and live inside the oral cavities of human and animal hosts. These pests can cause a dangerous infection known as oral myiasis.”
The site further notes: “People can develop oral myiasis by eating larvae in their food. Flies can also enter the mouth and lay eggs in wounds.”
Another term to avoid is degloving.
WebMD describes degloving, also known as avulsion, as a situation where ‘a large piece of your skin along with the layer of soft tissue right under it is partially or completely ripped from your muscles and connecting tissues’.
The description alone is unsettling, and the images are even more so, so it’s best not to look them up.
While Krokodil resembles the word crocodile, typing it into Google Images will lead you far from images of the reptile—so be cautious with spelling errors!
Instead, you’ll discover that Krokodil has various meanings across different languages.
The specific definition highlighted by the It’s Gone Viral report refers to the opioid drug desomorphine.
A 2013 Time magazine report described it as ‘The World’s Deadliest Drug’.
Russian doctors first noticed ‘strange wounds’ on numerous drug addicts.
It was later revealed that these individuals were injecting a new drug called ‘Krokodil’. This drug was famously labeled a ‘flesh-eating zombie drug’ in a CNN report.
These are certainly not images you’d want to see.
Fournier, while a common French surname, is also associated with an ‘acute necrotic infection’ of the genital area, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).
WebMD alerts readers: “Fournier’s gangrene gets worse quickly and can kill you, so it’s always an emergency.”
Lastly, steer clear of looking up Harlequin baby syndrome, also known as congenital ichthyosis.
Healthline describes this as a ‘rare condition affecting the skin’, part of a category of disorders known as ichthyosis, which causes persistently dry, scaly skin over the body.
The site adds that newborns with this condition have skin ‘covered with thick, diamond-shaped plates that resemble fish scales’.
Immediate treatment is required for infants with this condition.