📈 Google Discover: What’s new in January 2025

Author

TRAFCK SEO Agency
January 26, 2025

As specialists in Google Discover optimisation, we’re excited to bring you the latest insights and updates to help you navigate the evolving landscape of Google Discover.

In 2024, publishers experienced a notable increase in referral traffic from Google Discover, which rose from 22.8% to 25.7% of overall traffic (according to data from publisher analytics firm Chartbeat who audited 3,750 sites). Despite concerns about generative AI chatbots potentially reducing search-driven traffic, publishers have not observed significant impacts from platforms like ChatGPT or Perplexity.

Here's what’s new in January 2025:

1️⃣ Updated Google Discover content guidelines

Google has updated its manual action policies for Google Discover. These changes aim to crack down on deceptive and low-quality practices across content platforms.

Key updates include:

  • Removal of the ‘Adult-themed content’ policy.

    Addition of five new categories targeting deceptive practices:

  • Coordinated Deceptive Practices – Concealing site ownership or purpose.

  • Misleading Metadata – Titles or descriptions that don’t match content.

  • Deceptive Ads – Misleading, malicious, or exploitative advertisements.

  • Manipulated Media – Altered or fabricated visuals intended to deceive.

  • Harmful or Dangerous Acts – Content encouraging harm or risky behaviour.

2️⃣ More sources in Discover feeds

Google is revamping its Discover feed to include a wider variety of content sources. This change aims to diversify the information users see, moving beyond a heavy reliance on major publishers. While the full rollout details remain unclear, early observations indicate that this shift could offer smaller publishers a chance to shine.

3️⃣ ‘Daily Listen’: News as podcasts

Google has introduced an experimental feature called ‘Daily Listen’ to its Discover feed, transforming personalised news into brief podcast episodes.

This feature utilises generative AI to curate a five-minute audio summary of top stories tailored to a user interests and previous activity.

Currently available to US users through the Google Labs program, Daily Listen can be accessed by enrolling via the Google app on Android or iOS.

Once enabled, it appears as a widget at the top of the Discover feed, offering playback controls and a scrolling transcript for convenience.

You can read more here.

4️⃣ Testing new feed layouts

Google is changing its Discover feed by displaying multiple sources for individual stories, either in a carousel or stacked format beneath the main article.

This update increases visibility for publishers by offering users a broader range of content options.

Google is also testing a double-row layout at the top of the Discover feed, featuring categories like games, air quality, stocks, shopping, and sports.

You can read more here.

5️⃣ YouTube is the most visible website on Discover globally

In December 2024, YouTube ranked #1 globally, followed by Infobae, Yahoo, and BBC.

You can read more here.