from Hacker News

Google pushed down websites from search results, showcasing AI content

by 7_hours_ago on 9/21/23, 2:22 AM with 4 comments

  • by skilled on 9/21/23, 6:25 AM

    I can attest that this is a pretty significant update. I'm seeing sites like cPanel/Plesk/HestiaCP resurface for server related queries, which is pretty dumb considering that these are control panels and most of the time borrow content from Stack Exchange anyway.

    Is it against Reddit's terms of service to use a sub-reddit as a blog? Because I think that's the future with how Google favors Reddit/Quora and other UGC sites.

  • by 7_hours_ago on 9/21/23, 2:22 AM

    A recent Google Search update is causing anger across the web. Some site owners say they are being pushed down in results with huge drops in traffic. Google recently tweaked its guidelines to permit AI-generated content.

  • by nperez on 9/21/23, 2:58 AM

    I've seen businesses tank because of search algo changes long before this. I see it as something similar to reliance on a third party API - you have to be prepared for the rug to be pulled on you at any time. This is why it makes me anxious when I talk to small business owners who have been obsessing over SEO and even paying large sums to SEO firms. It's such shaky ground.

  • by skilled on 9/21/23, 6:18 AM