Google’s Preferred Sources Tool Flooded With Spam
▼ Summary
– Google’s Preferred Sources tool allows users to customize their Top Stories by selecting preferred news sources for more frequent appearances.
– The tool is displaying low-quality copycat spam sites, parked domains, and random websites instead of legitimate sources.
– Domain squatters are registering similar domains using different TLDs, like .com.in, to mimic well-known websites.
– It is unclear how these copycat domains are being added to the tool, whether through user submissions or automatic inclusion by Google.
– The issue affects users in the USA and India, with many spam sites only having their home pages indexed by Google.
Google’s Preferred Sources tool was designed to give users greater influence over their news feed, allowing them to prioritize content from their favorite websites within the Top Stories section. This personalization feature aims to enhance the user experience by tailoring news results to individual preferences, rather than relying solely on Google’s algorithmic rankings. Unfortunately, the system appears to be malfunctioning, as it is now promoting a significant number of low-quality, spammy websites instead of legitimate news outlets.
The core issue involves the inclusion of copycat domains, parked websites, and random sites that offer little to no substantive content. Many of these sites are so poorly constructed that only their home pages are indexed by Google, raising serious questions about the tool’s effectiveness and security. Users expecting to see reputable sources are instead encountering imitations that degrade the quality and reliability of their news results.
A common tactic employed by spammers involves domain squatting on well-known website names using alternative top-level domains (TLDs). For instance, if a popular site uses a .com address, squatters might register the same name with a .com.in or .net.in extension. This practice creates confusion and allows these low-effort sites to appear alongside or even in place of the authentic sources users intend to follow.
It remains unclear how these dubious domains are infiltrating the Preferred Sources list. They may be manually submitted by individuals exploiting the system, or Google’s automated processes might be inadvertently collecting them. The tool is currently accessible in both the United States and India, which could explain the prevalence of domains using Indian country code TLDs within the results.
Several examples highlight the problem. A search for a prominent SEO tool within the tool brings up the correct website but also a parked domain on an Indian TLD. Similarly, looking for established publishers like HuffPost or Search Engine Journal can surface imitation sites on Indian domains. These copycat sites often host irrelevant or suspicious content, such as articles promoting payday loans, personal injury lawyers, or luxury watches, further demonstrating their lack of journalistic value.
The presence of these spam sites undermines the very purpose of the Preferred Sources feature. Instead of empowering users with high-quality, personalized news, it exposes them to potential misinformation and low-value content. Whether the problem stems from manual submissions by opportunistic SEOs or flaws in Google’s automatic aggregation, it highlights a significant vulnerability that needs urgent attention to restore user trust and functionality.
(Source: Search Engine Journal)
