Google overcame its competitors because the developers knew how to market and knew how to make a product that consumers wanted. In the early days of the internet, search engines where filled with adds, links, tools like calculators and calendars. While having links to Facebook or Reddit, and having the calculators and calendars seemed helpful, it crowded the page. Those search engines had too much going on to the point it became unhelpful. Google understood that people wanted a search engine that had its purpose and did it well. It's simple, does it's job, and it doesn't overwhelm the consumer when they want to look something up.
Think of it this way, if you're trying to look up a recipe, do you want to go to the page that had 20+ other links and flashy colors and pop up adds, or a simple search bar that will take you right where you need to go with no distractions?
Passive is the answer to you're question
