Intro
Google has confirmed that there is currently no mechanism for publishers to prevent specific content from appearing in the Google Discover feed, a feature available for Google News. This information came to light in a discussion on X (formerly Twitter) involving Google's Search Liaison and SEO expert Lily Ray.
The Issue of Content Control in Google Discover
Lily Ray highlighted a common issue faced by publishers: some content that performs well in organic search may not be ideal for Google News or Discover due to the specific guidelines of these platforms. Ray noted that while publishers can control content visibility in Google News using specific protocols, such options are unavailable for Google Discover. This lack of control can lead to a situation where content that might not align perfectly with Discover's guidelines is still indexed, potentially impacting overall Discover performance.
Google's Response and Current Capabilities
In response, Google's Search Liaison clarified that while publishers can manage content indexing for Google News, such controls do not extend to Discover. John Mueller from Google’s Search Relations team confirmed that there is no existing feature to block content solely from Google Discover. The Search Liaison acknowledged the potential usefulness of such a feature and indicated that this feedback would be considered, though there are no immediate plans to implement these controls.
Implications for Publishers
This confirmation underscores a significant limitation in the tools available to publishers for managing content across different Google platforms. Currently, publishers can use tools like robots.txt and meta tags to control content indexing in Google News and general search results, but they lack equivalent tools for Discover. This limitation can be challenging for content that does not fully align with Discover's content guidelines yet performs well in other areas.
Future Considerations
While Google's acknowledgment suggests a recognition of the issue, there are no current solutions or timelines for implementing a content blocking feature specifically for Discover. For now, publishers need to continue managing their content strategy within the available tools and guidelines, balancing the potential benefits and drawbacks of content visibility across different Google services.
This development highlights the evolving nature of SEO and content management, with a need for more refined control tools as platforms like Google Discover grow in importance. As the situation evolves, publishers and SEO professionals will need to stay informed about new tools and features that Google may introduce to address these challenges.
