Google May Be More Successful In Blocking Scrapers & Tracking Tools
Google may be more successful in blocking AI scrapers, search scrapers and third-party tracking tools since around September 13th or so. This coincides with the September 4th and September 12th reversals we reported, and it also aligns with the methods Google has been using to block non-human behavior in its search results recently.
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Programming Note: Offline Monday For Yom Kippur 5787
This is a programming note: I will be 100% offline from Sunday night (September 20th) through Monday night (September 21st) for Yom Kippur. I am not scheduling any stories tomorrow, Monday, Yom Kippur; nothing will be posted.
Google Web Guide Classic Search Button Doesn't Take You To Classic Search
Google Search has this beta opt-in feature named Web Guide, it is like a mix of its AI search results interface and web search interface - in one. That being said, there seems to be a bug where, when you click the button that says "Classic search," it does not take you out of Web Guide and into classic search.
Search Video Recaps
Google Search Console Crawl Stats Missing A Day Of Data: September 15th
The crawl stats report is missing a day of data again, this time, the missing data is from September 15th (it might be a day later for some of you on different time zones). That being said, this has happened numerous times before and Google tends to always restore the data.
Google Discover Tests Dive Deeper Feature
Google is testing a new feature in Google Discover named "Dive deeper." When you click on it, it does not take you to a publisher's article, instead, it takes you to an AI-generated short topic overview with links to some other articles (which do take you to the publisher) and community reaction.
Daily Search Forum Recap: September 18, 2026
Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today...
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Unusual Google Search Ranking Volatility, Ad Tech Monopoly Remedies, AI Contribution Publisher Payouts & More
This week we covered the first week or so of Google’s unusual ranking volatility only to see things spike up in a big way this week as well - something is up. Google’s remedies are out for its ad tech monopoly ruling. Google has an AI contribution pilot for paying publishers...
Google Search Bar Results Page Testing AI Mode Button
Google is now testing adding the AI Mode button to the search bar when you are inside the search results page. Google has the AI Mode button almost everywhere else, but now we are seeing it added to the search bar, within the search results page, not just the home page.
Archives
Bing Also Asking To Verify You Are Human Before Showing Search Results
Sep 18, 2026Google Ads Commerce Audience Sharing Help Document
Sep 18, 2026Google Merchant Center API Now Supports Product Reviews
Sep 18, 2026Google Now Requires You Label Adult Products In Ecommerce Feeds
Sep 18, 2026Google Search Drops Free Product Listings From European Economic Area
Sep 18, 2026Google Supports Local Business Queries In Aggregator & Supplier Search Units
Sep 18, 2026Daily Search Forum Recap: September 17, 2026
Sep 17, 2026Picture of the Day
