Lately, I've seen hyperlinks inserted in answers (example here) that suggest a Google Search query to a user. While I think there is some value in providing the terminology a novice should use to find their answers, it strikes me as going against the idea of Stack Exchange in general, to be the first source of knowledge when people search Google and avoiding link rot.
Should I take any sort of action when encountering these?
While what Vincent said about StackExchange wanting to be the reference that shows up on Google is true, I disagree with the sentiment that any answer that references a search query should be a comment.
I think if an answer is primarily a reference to a search query (Google or otherwise), then it is better suited as a comment. However, if the answer is useful in its own right and then provides a search query in addition that the OP/viewers may not have searched, I think that is valid and should stay in answers. Often times I will include a search query in my answers, especially when dealing with terminology and style identification requests. Three I found very quickly are these: 1, 2, 3.
In the answer linked in the question, the query included isn't all that useful so I wouldn't mind it being omitted or edited out, but in general including a search query shouldn't be banned.
It is Stack Exchange's aim to be the link that pops up when you Google a question. Google links in answers would become a strange loop in this case. Mathematically and philosophically interesting, but not a desirable effect in practice.
I'd prefer to see these as comments, so I'd say flag them to be converted to a comment when you see them.
I am against this because you come to a specific website to get opinions from it's members not from everywhere.
That being said, there is a reasonably good chance you came from Google in the first place.
