Google takes aim at SEO-optimized junk pages and spam with new search update (techcrunch.com)
from Aurelius@lemmy.world to technology@lemmy.world on 06 Mar 2024 07:57
https://lemmy.world/post/12794159

#technology

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autotldr@lemmings.world on 06 Mar 2024 08:00 next collapse

This is the best summary I could come up with:


Overall, the update intends to improve Google’s ranking systems to downrank pages that were “created for search engines instead of for people,” the company’s announcement explains.

That is, sites that have a poor user experience or that were seemingly designed to match a very specific search query will be impacted.

This could impact web pages that pretend to offer answers to popular search queries, but don’t actually provide much value to the end user.

Google tells us the ranking changes will “directly address low-quality AI-generated content that’s designed to attract clicks, but that doesn’t add much original value,” according to spokesperson Jennifer Kutz.

The ultimate goal is reducing the presence of pages that feel unsatisfying, and lack original content,” she said.

Google says it’s publishing its policy two months in advance of enforcement on May 5 to give site owners time to make changes.


The original article contains 756 words, the summary contains 144 words. Saved 81%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

AceBonobo@lemmy.world on 07 Mar 2024 12:02 collapse

Google says it’s publishing its policy two months in advance of enforcement on May 5 to give site owners time to make changes.

Seriously?

Badeendje@lemmy.world on 06 Mar 2024 08:14 next collapse

I hope they figure this out, cause the search results are depressing.

thehatfox@lemmy.world on 06 Mar 2024 08:31 next collapse

Unfortunately it’s never-ending cat and mouse battle. The whole point of SEO is to game the search engines systems, so the spammers will now be adjusting their tactics.

I don’t think it’s just SEO that’s the problem with Google search either. They seem to put too much weight on e-commerce over information.

tyler@programming.dev on 06 Mar 2024 08:46 collapse

Kagi and sealngx figured it out just fine. Turns out if your goal isn’t to show advertisements then it’s not that hard of a problem.

noodlejetski@lemm.ee on 06 Mar 2024 08:48 next collapse

sealngx

do you mean SearXNG?

tyler@programming.dev on 06 Mar 2024 08:57 collapse

Yeah. It’s well past my bedtime. I shouldn’t be online

user224@lemmy.sdf.org on 06 Mar 2024 12:46 collapse

I hope you’re asleep now.

gapbetweenus@feddit.de on 06 Mar 2024 08:54 next collapse

Or SEO is focused on gaming google.

hannes3120@feddit.de on 06 Mar 2024 09:31 collapse

Those are just insignificant compared to Google so noone is even trying to game them.

That’s actually one of the reasons why I use kagi but saying that they figured it out is just wrong

webghost0101@sopuli.xyz on 06 Mar 2024 13:27 next collapse

Honestly, i hope they don’t.

We don’t need google (or any tech giant) where the internet of humans is going.

Fermion@mander.xyz on 06 Mar 2024 13:36 collapse

There’s something else wrong besides just excessive SEO. The other day I was trying to find a battery controller for a diy battery pack. I searched “rechargeable battery controller.” Every result on the first page was rechargeable battery packs for Xbox controllers. I understand how there could be a strong correlation, but it was every result being for Xbox controllers. So my conclusion is that Google search is doing more than correlating occurrence of search terms now. I think they’re running some sort of ai to guess what you intend to search based on what you typed then showing results based on that. So their system decided I was looking for a battery for an Xbox controller and showed only results for that search rather than a search of what I actually typed.

Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world on 06 Mar 2024 08:48 next collapse

Google doesn’t want its search to be bad? News to me

squeakycat@lemmy.ml on 06 Mar 2024 08:49 next collapse

So… Most of the web?

Kidplayer_666@lemm.ee on 06 Mar 2024 09:17 next collapse

If Google keeps listing the battle, hopefully other search engines can arise. Bigger variety would help with combating SEO, cause if you have 3 or 4 alternatives, it becomes harder to game all of them

huginn@feddit.it on 06 Mar 2024 13:22 collapse

Only if they use substantially different ranking algos.

Given how poor DDG and Bing search is (tons of the same SEO pages) I doubt that the other search engines will fix anything.

Armok_the_bunny@lemmy.world on 06 Mar 2024 20:50 collapse

The answer seems fairly obvious to me if they really want to improve search results: blanket ban any domain owned by any company known to engage in blatant SEO spam, let them appeal after 6 months. The fact that isn’t done means Google sees profit in allowing SEO spam to exist as long as it doesn’t push too many people away.

Toribor@corndog.social on 07 Mar 2024 13:02 collapse

The fact that I have to use browser plugins and block these domains myself is ridiculous.