Did you know you can configure Google to filter junk? Take these steps to improve search results, including adding my work to Lifehacker as a preferred source.
Google sponsored ads are usually a nuisance. Not only are they often irrelevant to what you are looking for, sometimes they can be malicious: You may think you're clicking on a legitimate link to what you were looking for, but in reality you're going somewhere else entirely. Together with all new AI components Google has introduced in recent years, it is becoming increasingly difficult get the search results you're really looking for.
But there is a little good news on this front: As originally reported by The Verge.Google-sponsored advertising becomes less annoying. Previously, these advertisements appeared one after the other, each under a separate “Promotional” heading. Going forward, you will only see one heading, “Sponsorship,” and all sponsored links are listed below. And the best part? Once you scroll to the bottom of this block of content, you will have the option to collapse all advertising links, hiding all advertising from the search field.
This is a small but welcome change for anyone who is tired of dealing with Google's often frustrating Sponsored Ads on every search they conduct. Google makes most of its money from search advertising, so the company will never get rid of it completely. But giving you the option to hide them from view—even if you only see that option after scrolling through all the ads—is a step in the right direction.
What are your thoughts so far?
Of course, if you decide to use ad blockeryou'll never have to worry about ads appearing in search results. Heck, if you're already using it, you might never have known about this change in the first place. But ad blockers are not for everyoneand they can wreak havoc on small sites that rely on advertising revenue, even if they protect you from harmful (and annoying) ads.
If you choose not to use an ad blocker, these changes may make browsing Google search results a challenge. small at least a little better.
