Google Adding More Top Stories in Search With Multiple Carousels

[engine]

Google has said it's adding more news content to "top stories" in search, which was a couple of stories of AMP, and now users will see multiple carousels with scrolling. Of course, it's using machine learning to deliver the news.

When you’re searching for information on a timely topic--a recent sports upset or the latest scientific breakthrough--you see a carousel of articles at the top of your Search results highlighting relevant news. Now, when there are multiple stories related to your search, we’ll also organize the results by story so it’s easier to understand what’s most relevant and you can make a more informed decision on which specific articles to explore. Within each story, the new structure will make more room for high-quality content--beyond just the most recent coverage--as well as more diverse sources, to bring more context and perspective to the day’s news.

[blog.google...]

[SweetPotato]

Before: websites
Now: bs

[MrSavage]

And so...instead of spreading the sources of information, the funnel goes into effect and that essentially means "partner" websites take those few spots, thus influencing the masses. I'm for more sources, more links and less filtering. A smaller amount of website grow into even bigger influencers and we know what happens when the money gets bigger. Big images too, just like a...website? Next will be larger snippets (paid for content) to bolster the content. Come on guys. SEO your way through this.

[tangor]

Controlling data flow?

What initially appears to be an attempt to offer more UP TOP the reverse occurs ... it appears to be love of mobile (screen size) ignoring the fact that users will actually scroll once, twice, maybe three times.

Sometimes folks get too clever and get in their own way.

Color me not impressed.

[MrSavage]

I think of it this way. When search is being search, on page one, in theory, let's say for desktop there should be how many "sources"? Even on mobile, remove ads at top, how many organic "listings" would there be? I bet there would be more than one or two big new "sites" that a lot of users will just click on. That's skewing the flow of information and it's actually troubling consider market share that Google has. The rule will never change. More sources is better for balance than fewer sources. Issue is Google is growing ultra dominant for search and at the same time they are reducing the number of sources viewable to users. I'll be glad when this gets dealt with. Again though, this being an SEO forum, who has some bright SEO ideas to combat the expansion of these "features". Brings to light the fact that when people cry about lost traffic, they often won't consider a new carousel that has been added or a new row of "suggestions". Too simple and not sexy enough I suppose.

[tangor]

@MrSavage ... nice reminder on expectations!

And an observation that expectations are different for everyone!