Google is giving users more control over which publishers and topics they see across Search, Discover, and Google News.
They’ve announced a new Preferred Sources button that publishers can add directly to their websites. When readers select it, the site is added to their Preferred Sources on Google, making it easier to find content from that publisher in Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode.
Preferred Sources itself is not new, but the new button makes it easier for readers to add a publication they follow without leaving the publisher’s site. Google says people have already selected more than 600,000 unique sources through the feature.
Google is also adding more control to Discover. In the coming days, users of the Google app will be able to tap the three-dot menu in their feed and tell Google, in their own words, what topics or links they want to see more or less of. The feed will adjust based on those preferences and remember them over time.
The Google News app on Android is also getting more customizable daily audio briefings. Users can choose specific topics they want covered, with source attribution and links available for those who want to read the full stories.
The updates give users more say over the information Google recommends to them. For publishers, the new Preferred Sources button could also provide another way to strengthen connections with regular readers as Search continues to evolve around AI-powered features.
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