Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Google Testing Removal of Dates in Discover Feed
Google Discover is conducting a limited experiment to remove article dates from its feed cards. This change aims to assess how omitting the date display impacts user engagement and content perception. Google confirmed the test is intentional and not a technical issue, highlighting their ongoing efforts to optimize feed elements. The experiment is still in progress with observations being gathered.
Optimixed’s Overview: How Google’s Date Removal Test Could Influence Discover Feed Engagement
Background of the Experiment
Google is actively experimenting with the user interface of its Discover feed by temporarily removing the publication dates from article cards. This test was first noticed by industry observer Damien, who shared a demonstration video on social media, sparking discussions about the potential impacts of this UI change.
Details of the Test
- Removal of Date Display: The usual date or “card age” indicator that appears in the footer of each article card in Discover is being hidden during this test.
- Official Confirmation: Rajan Patel from Google clarified that this is a deliberate experiment, not a bug or accidental issue.
- Ongoing Analysis: Google is monitoring how removing the date affects user behavior, engagement, and overall feed value.
Potential Implications
Removing dates could influence how users perceive the freshness and relevance of content in the Discover feed. It may lead to stronger focus on content quality rather than recency or alternatively cause confusion about content timeliness. The results of this experiment will likely guide future design decisions for Google Discover’s interface and content presentation.
