Google Conducts Experiment on News Impact in Search Results

March 21, 2025 - 18:13

Google has reported the results of an experiment it ran which removed news from search results for 1% of users for 2.5 months in eight markets in Europe. This bold move aimed to evaluate the role of news content in its advertising ecosystem. The company found that excluding news articles did not significantly affect its overall ad revenue, leading to the assertion that news is not as critical to its ad business as previously thought.

The experiment involved a diverse range of users across various countries, providing insights into how the absence of news influences search behavior and ad performance. Google's findings suggest that users may not prioritize news content when searching online, potentially reshaping how the tech giant approaches its relationship with news publishers.

This revelation could have far-reaching implications for the media industry, as it raises questions about the value of news in the digital advertising landscape and the future of partnerships between tech companies and news organizations.