• Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Core Update Volatility, Helpful Content Update Gone, Dangerous Google Search Results & Google Ads Confusion

    This week, we covered that the Google March 2024 core update is still rolling out 38 days later, but we saw more volatility this week. Just a reminder that the Google helpful content update no longer exists. Gary Illyes from

  • Google Search Tests Thumbs Up/Down Buttons In Product Grid Results

    Google launched the style recommendations with thumbs up and down buttons not long ago after testing it in January. Now Google is showing this thumbs up and down buttons in the product grid search results, so Google can see what you like or dislike and then show you more products that you do like.Brodie Clark spotted this and posted some examples on X, he wrote, "Google is now testing out a more personalized experience for organic product grid results on mobile."Here are some of his...

  • Google clarifies guidelines for beta carousels feature in search results

    Google this week updated its Search Central documentation to provide clearer guidance on the beta carousels feature.

  • Meta AI adds Google Search results

    Meta AI will point users to web search results of Google or Microsoft Bing for queries that require the most up-to-date answers.

  • Threads is testing real-time search results

    Meta’s Threads app is often described as the company’s competitor to X. But Threads users, especially those once active on Twitter, are often quick to point out that Meta’s app is not yet a great source for real-time information. The app’s “for you” algorithm often surfaces days-old posts alongside fresh ones, and its recently introduced trending topics feature only shows five topics at a time. But for those holding out hope that the app may eventually become more useful for real-time...

  • Google Is Not Removing The Site Command Search Feature

    Danny Sullivan, Google's Search Liaison, confirmed that the search company is not closing the site command search operator. He said this after there were some complaints about the operator not working properly.Sullivan said on X, "we aren't closing site: search."A site command restricts the search results to a specific site. For example, in a world where Google did not show Reddit results for every query, and in a world where you want to see results from Reddit, you can do a site:reddit.com...

  • Google tests a "Most Relevant" personalized feed on YouTube for mobile. What is it?

    Google is apparently testing a new personalized view of its subscription feed on YouTube. It's called a "Most Relevant" view.

  • Threads is finally testing a recent filter for search results

    Meta-owned social network Threads is finally testing a “Recent” filter to sort search results based on the most recent posts. Instagram head Adam Mosseri noted Monday that the roll-out is part of a “limited test,” and the feature has been made available to only a few users. “We’re starting to test this with a small […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

  • Threads is finally rolling out real-time search results for some users

    Threads, Meta’s microblogging platform, has come a long way since its launch almost a year ago. However, Threads still lacks some important features – such as an option to show real-time search results. After Meta said it had no plans to make this a reality, the company is finally letting some Threads users see recent search results. more

  • Google Goes On Defensive On Its Search Quality & Forum Results Statements

    Recently, we covered some of Google's rationale for ranking forums like Reddit and Quora so well in the Discussion and Forums box for many queries. Just a few days ago, we covered how I was sad to see Google ranking some dangerous and potentially harmful forum threads for health-related queries. Danny Sullivan, Google's Search Liason, posted comments on a LinkedIn post from Lily Ray defending the statement he made on this topic. I'll share them all here, because I am sure many of you did not...

  • Google blocking links to California news outlets from search results

    Tech giant is protesting proposed law that would require large online platforms to pay ‘journalism usage fee’Google has temporarily blocked links from local news outlets in California from appearing in search results in response to the advancement of a bill that would require tech companies to pay publications for links that articles share. The change applies only to some people using Google in California, though it is not clear how many.The California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA) would...

  • Google Responds To Claims Where Search Results Can Be Harmful & Dangerous

    Over the past few weeks, Google's Search Liaison, Danny Sullivan, has been replying to complaints about some examples of search results being not just low-quality but also potentially harmful and dangerous. The sad part to me is that a couple of years ago, this was not the case with the Google search results (for the most part).When I interviewed Hyung-Jin Kim, the Vice President of Google Search, at SMX a couple of years back, he told a touching story about this topic. He explained that a...