Google Expands Preferred Sources Globally & Adds Spotlighting Subscriptions

12/11/25
Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of Google Expands Preferred Sources Globally and Introduces Spotlighting Subscriptions

Google’s Preferred Sources feature is now available worldwide for English users, allowing personalized news curation by selecting favorite outlets. This update follows successful trials in the US and India, with plans to support more languages next year. Additionally, Spotlighting subscriptions will highlight content from subscribed publications, first launching on Gemini and expanding to AI-powered features. These enhancements aim to provide users with more trusted and relevant news experiences.

Optimixed’s Overview: Enhancing News Personalization with Google’s Global Preferred Sources and Subscription Spotlighting

Global Rollout of Preferred Sources

Google has expanded its Preferred Sources feature beyond the US and India to users worldwide in English, with additional language support coming soon. This tool empowers users to customize their news feeds by choosing from nearly 90,000 unique sources, including local blogs and international outlets. When activated, users see more articles from their selected sources in the “Top stories” section, effectively doubling engagement with those sites.

How to Use Preferred Sources

  • Search for a current news topic.
  • Click the star icon next to “Top stories” to open the Preferred Sources menu.
  • Search for and select your favorite news sources.
  • Refresh your search results to see increased content from chosen sources.

Introducing Spotlighting Subscriptions

In addition to personalizing news sources, Google is launching Spotlighting subscriptions, a feature designed to highlight links from publications users subscribe to. This enhancement will make trusted content more accessible by featuring subscribed articles in a dedicated carousel. Initially available on the Gemini app, Spotlighting subscriptions will soon integrate with Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode, enriching the news consumption experience.