The phrase “Just Google it” can pretty sum up how people become more informed about everyday life and things.

However, the content you see listed as “top results” are more often than not Google-affiliated content and not necessarily the best possible search results. This auto process of sorting information using an algorithm could hurt consumers who want results that are more relevant to their search terms.

In a recent study, sponsored by Google competitor Yelp, researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial in which the search results were varied for users.

The study found that users engage 45 percent more with “organically determined” content – including links from competitors – than with the results generated by Google.

“This suggests that by leveraging dominance in search to promote its internal content, Google is reducing social welfare –­ leaving consumers with lower quality results and worse matches,” the study reported.

Tim Wu, co-author of the study, and leader in the net neutraility movement said the results of the study were surprising.

“The idea that you can build a better version of Google search engine pretty easily if you don’t exclude competitors to me was a pretty startling finding,” Wu said.

On Monday Google asserted in a statement that it is committed to providing “the best results for its users.”

“This isn’t new,” Google said. “Yelp’s been making these arguments to regulators, and demanding higher placement in search results, for the past five years. This latest study is based on a flawed methodology that focuses on results for just a handful of cherry-picked queries.”