"Google has released its first core update of 2026, which is focused on just Google Discover. Google named it the February 2026 Discover core update. This one is rolling over the next two weeks or so, just English language users in the US and at some point will roll out beyond that to all countries and languages. Google wrote, "This is a broad update to our systems that surface articles in Discover.""
"Google wrote, the update will improve Discover as follows: Showing users more locally relevant content from websites based in their country Reducing sensational content and clickbait in Discover Showing more in-depth, original, and timely content from websites with expertise in a given area, based on our systems' understanding of a site's content"
"It feels like Google is 'fixing' the SERPs by serving more low-intent or Discover-style traffic that doesn't convert. I remain at 90-95% down, wiped from search, images, news, and discover. I've been doing this for a long time, but it was all wiped overnight, and yes, my site was in News, just like Discover and removed."
Google released the February 2026 Discover core update, a Discover-specific broad change to systems that surface articles. The rollout will occur over roughly two weeks, initially affecting English-language users in the United States before expanding to other countries and languages. The update prioritizes locally relevant content from sites based in a user's country, reduces sensational and clickbait content, and surfaces more in-depth, original, and timely content from sites with demonstrated expertise. Non-US publishers targeting US audiences may see reduced Discover traffic, while those sites' content may gain visibility in their own local regions over time. Publishers report significant visibility drops across search, images, news, and Discover.
Read at Search Engine Roundtable
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