Google is currently testing a feature named “Preferred Sources” that enables users to select trusted news outlets, including Breitbart News, to see more content in the “Top Stories” section of search results. For now, this feature is only available in the United States and India.
Through its Search Labs program, Google is experimenting with “Preferred Sources.” This allows users to mark sources in the Top Stories section, and Google adjusts its output based on those preferences.
As per a Google announcement, whether it’s your favorite sports blog or local paper, users can expect to see more results from sites they prefer. Users simply need to tap a star icon next to the top story header to choose their desired source. If the trials are successful, it’s likely this feature will roll out globally.
Given Google’s history of limiting Breitbart’s visibility in search results, this feature seems particularly valuable for its readers. Research highlights that since the 2016 election, Google has reduced Breitbart’s search visibility by approximately 99.7%.
This decline in visibility is significant. On April 4, 2016, Breitbart ranked among the top 10 results for 355 key search terms, but by July 20, 2020, it only appeared in the top 10 for one. Initially, it was in the top 100 results for 16,820 terms, while by mid-2020, that number decreased to just 55.
Moreover, unique visitor traffic from organic Google searches to Breitbart has dropped by 63% between the first half of 2016 and the same period in 2020.
This feature is currently in the testing phase in English search labs and is limited to the US and India. Google indicated that users searching for new articles will begin to see more updates from their preferred sites.
Steps to set Breitbart News as a preferred source:
1) Click this link to access the Google Labs page for the experiment.
2) Hit “Turn on to select source” and then click “Try.”
3) On the Source Settings page, search for and select Breitbart News. You can select multiple sources at once.
4) Once you’ve completed these steps, the “Top Stories” section in Google Search Results will show an added “From Source” feature.
While priority sources primarily function within the top stories area, this represents a significant move toward user-driven news personalization. It doesn’t completely replace Google’s ranking algorithms, but rather adds a personalized touch. Breitbart News is monitoring this feature closely and will provide updates on its global deployment.
