Google changed site's metatag

[alika]

Noticed that Google has changed the meta description for the homepage of my oldest site that I have redesigned a couple of weeks ago. Whatever search query the homepage is showing, this is what Google shows:

"These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. No cookies to display. Performance."

I remember tinkering with the site's GA4's Consent Settings, but didn't catch the change in the site's meta description for the homepage until I saw it on Semrush (meta description for inside pages are fine)

I revised the meta description of the site yesterday and submitted the homepage for reindexing, but does anyone have a clue where Google is picking this up? And how can I force Google to craft a meta description using text that is on the site, and not something totally off like cookies. There's nothing on the homepage that shows this text. I disabled the CookieYes | GDPR Cookie Consent plugin.

There's been no noticeable drop in organic traffic from GA4, but I don't want to wait for that.

Your expert advice is always appreciated. Thanks

[not2easy]

Do you currently have a meta description on the homepage that describes the page? Does the text Google has selected exist on the page in another place? Have you tested the page's content to be sure there are no technical errors? Some of the tools to help are the validators (free) at w3.org:
CSS: [jigsaw.w3.org...]
HTML: [validator.w3.org...]

...and then there's AI that isn't always right.

[alika]

Yes, I always have a meta description that perfectly describes the page - using keywords that are on the page.

I have run the tests and no technical errors that I could see could cause this

One thing I am just discovering now is when I do the site: search in Google, all the pages that come up show that cookies meta description. However, when I search for the title of the article in Google, the real meta description comes up

[Juniya]

Very strange...Might be something to do with this " I disabled the CookieYes | GDPR Cookie Consent plugin." - I did a quick google search and it seems this phrase has come up on multiple sites, and the one thing that links them all together? They all seem to run Wordpress.

I am then assuming they have or at least at one point used this plugin. I think disabling it leaves something? You should ask the owners of the plugin to see if they can help you but I am almost certain it has something to do with this plugin, maybe you need to delete it completely from your Wordpress instead of disabling it? If you already deleted it then you need to for sure ask the authors of the plugin, there is something up with it...

[alika]

Thanks, deleted the plugin and ran the cache. And yes, it is a Wordpress site

I used the plugin to comply with Google Adsense's consent management requirements for serving ads in the EEA, the UK, and Switzerland. I passed that requirement when I used the CookieYes GDPR plugin.

But after redesigning the site, I deleted the Google Adsense account, which I did a couple of weeks ago. Then I went on vacation for 10 days and, of course, came back with an issue LOL

Though I feel it also has something to do with GA4's Consent settings given the language of the cookie meta description.

[alika]

The deletion of the plugin fixed the issue. Thanks for everyone's help