Google launched a new feature in the Google App for iOS named Page Annotation. When you are browsing a web page in the Google App native browser, Google can "extract interesting entities from the webpage and highlight them in line." When you click on them, Google takes you to more search results.
I don't think this is a new feature, I mean, I've heard of this before from Google. I just can't find my write up on it. Maybe it was only Android before and it was named something else. That being said, this will lead to people going to your site, then Google injecting links on your site that will lead your website visits to Google Search.
Like Google hasn't taken enough away from you... Now Google is taking users who are on your website and taking them to search. They will likely never find their way back to your website again.
Hate it? Well, Google added a new opt out form - the only issue, it can take up to 30 days for the opt out form to work.
Here is what the Page Annotation feature looks like:
On the opt out form it says, "To opt out of this annotation feature for pages , fill out the following fields. The Page Annotation feature triggered on your site will be disabled within 30 days of opting out."
Ashwarya from the Google Search Support Team wrote in the Google Web Search Forums:
We’ve created a new feature called Page Annotation in the Google App browser for iOS. It extracts interesting entities from the webpage and highlights them in line. When the user clicks on the highlighted entity, it will direct the user to the search result page for this entity. Web publishers are able to opt websites they manage out of this feature by submitting this form.
I know I covered Google doing something like this before - can anyone help me find it? Maybe AdSense ad intent formats.
Later Google added this section to the control crawling docs. It reads:
Applicable: web pagesWords, topics, products, places, celebrity names, and other entities that are mentioned in a page might be highlighted as clickable annotations in the Google App browser for iOS. By clicking the annotation, the user will be navigated to the search page with the results for this annotation. Site owners can choose to opt out of this annotation feature by submitting the opt-out form. The Page Annotation feature triggered on your site will be disabled within 30 days after submitting the opt-out form. You only need to do this once.
Here is a screenshot:
Forum discussion at Google Web Search Forums.
Update: A Google spokesperson reached out to say that this just loads an app tray with more information and does not lead users away from the site. Technically, the app tray loads over the site, sure but ultimately that click from the app tray can lead users away from your site.
Google also updated the forum post to now say:
We’ve introduced a new way to get additional information about the topics you’re interested in on the Google app when using an iOS device . Now, we’ll extract interesting information from Google Knowledge Graph entities and highlight them in line. When the user clicks on the highlighted entity, it will open the app tray, so you can easily find out more information, right when curiosity strikes. This new experience allows people to quickly get additional context about people, places or things - without leaving the site they're on. And when you're done, you can easily swipe to close the app tray and you're right back on the page where you started. Web publishers are able to opt websites they manage out of this feature by submitting this form.
Update 2: Here it is in action:
— Anthony Higman (@AnthonyHigman) November 27, 2024
And it takes you off my site, which is what Google says it doesn't:
Thats a big 10-4! It do! pic.twitter.com/VDq90PQJKM
— Anthony Higman (@AnthonyHigman) November 27, 2024
