You will now determine your news sources on Google

Google has announced a new feature that allows users to determine which publications they want to see more frequently in news search results. The button, called "Preferred Sources," was designed as a standard redirection tool that publishers can add to their own websites.

According to a report on chip.com.tr, when a user clicks this button on a news site, the relevant publication is added to the user's list of preferred sources on Google. Once the process is complete, the user returns to the page they were on. Following this preference, Google can make content from that publication more visible in search results.

The new system does not only cover classic search results. According to Google's statement, selected sources may also be shown more frequently in the "Top Stories" section, as well as in AI Overviews and AI Mode results.

TRAFFIC DEBATE FOR PUBLISHERS

Some publishers were already adding similar links to their sites using their own methods. The new button announced by Google standardizes this practice, allowing users to be directed to the preferred source system directly from publisher pages.

The move comes at a time when the impact of AI-powered search experiences on publisher traffic is being debated. Features like AI Overviews and AI Mode can provide answers to some questions within Google without directing the user to another site. This has become a significant agenda item for news and content sites that depend on search traffic.

Google continues to be an important source of visitors for news and content sites. For this reason, the extent to which the new preference button will provide additional visibility and traffic to publishers will be closely monitored.

The company is also facing regulatory pressure regarding its AI-powered search features. In June, Google announced that it would offer websites the option to prevent their content from being used in AI-generated search results.

DISCOVER AND NEWS ARE CHANGING

In addition to Search, Google is expanding personalization options in the Discover feed and the News app. With the new feature, users will be able to reach Gemini from the three-dot icon next to a news item in the Google app and provide instructions for the types of content they want to see or do not want to see.

According to Google, the Discover feed will be updated based on these requests and will remember the user's preferences for future use. The feature is planned to be rolled out first in the mobile Google app.

Audio news summaries in the Google News app on Android are also receiving new options. Users will be able to choose which topics they want to be included in audio summaries. Google will also display news sources more prominently in these summaries and provide links to the original articles.

The new features will be rolled out gradually. Therefore, the Preferred Sources button, Gemini-powered Discover settings, and innovations in the News app may not appear for all users at the same time.

News Source: 12punto