Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Google Discover’s Increasing Flood of X (Twitter) Posts
Google Discover is showing a growing number of social media posts from X (formerly Twitter), often including content from accounts users do not follow. This influx includes a mix of X posts, YouTube videos, and hybrid posts linking to articles, leading to user frustration. Many users and experts believe the feed is becoming overloaded and is in need of better content curation to improve relevance and user experience.
Optimixed’s Overview: Navigating the Surge of Social Media Content in Google Discover
Understanding the Current State of Google Discover Feeds
Google Discover has integrated social media posts, particularly from X, into its content feed for some time. Recently, users have observed a significant increase in the volume of these posts, which often dominate their feeds. This phenomenon is reported across multiple platforms including iOS and Android devices.
User Experience and Community Feedback
- Content Overload: Users encounter multiple posts from X accounts they do not follow, causing a feeling of feed saturation.
- Mixed Media Types: The feed includes a blend of X posts, YouTube videos, and hybrid posts linking to articles, which some users find confusing or irrelevant.
- Community Discussions: Both casual users and SEO experts have raised concerns on social forums and platforms like the Google Web Search Forums and X itself.
Implications for Google Discover’s Relevance
This trend raises questions about how Google is aligning Discover content with user interests and search rankings. The apparent dominance of X content may detract from the personalized experience Discover aims to provide, emphasizing the need for improved content filtering and user controls.