Google's 'Project Owl' to Improve Searching, Surfing & Safety

LOTS OF IMPROVEMENTS AT GOOGLE

I recently wrote a HOW TO blog on my HEN Affiliates website called The Simplest Ways to Survive Google’s Newest Algorithm Changes.

Google has been changing their algorithm quite often and most recently gave their advice with a number of questions for content writers. These questions pertain to the direction they want your website articles to go. One main reason why Google is so adament about high quality content--lately, in particular,-- is because of a huge issue they have been facing since last December.

FAKE NEWS AND PROBLEMATIC CONTENT

There has been an increasing search quality problem that has resulted from fake news, disturbing answers and offensive search suggestions appearing at the top of the search results. So, in order to get a handle on it all, Google formed "Project Owl" to address these issues in hopes to put emphasis on authoritative content.

It's true that for years Google had issues like this, but unfortunately now it has gotten much worse. It goes beyond SPAM to content that is falsified and offensive. So now, Google is taking action.

This past February, Google began beta-testing and allowing people to report problematic search suggestions, and today, it is live for everyone worldwide. I will discuss this more below.

PROJECT OWL

Google named this new approach to problematic content "Project Owl" for a distinct reason. An owl represents wisdom, the perfect symbol for this project. Google wants to bring back wisdom onto their platform.

PROBLEMATIC SEARCHES

This is a term that defines how people are producing mass content to serve their unruly opinions regardless of the actual facts. Furthermore, people are searching and finding this content in volumes---so much, that it is greatly influencing the search suggestions in offensive and dangerous ways. This poor-quality content has shown up for popular searches and it is completely fake news that people totally make up and fabricate.

I mean, can you imagine what this could lead to? Not trusting whether or not the articles we read on the net are true or not?

IMPROVING AUTOCOMPLETE SEARCH SUGGESTIONS

Google has gone to great measures to improve the autocomplete search suggestions. You know, when you begin to type a search and suggestions drop down to speed up your search. (like the Alphabet Soup method).

So now, these suggestions are leading people array and detouring them into problematic topics--Black topics. It reminds me of the dark web.

Now, a new “Report inappropriate predictions” link will appear below the search box. When clicking that link, it brings up a form that people can select a prediction(s) on certain issues and report them.

These unsavory predictions can be reported as sexually explicit, violent, hateful or including dangerous and harmful activity. It also includes an “Other” category and comments are allowed. Sadly, Google has never before published reasons why something might be removed...until now.

DO YOU THINK THIS NEW SYSTEM WILL HELP? IF SO--HOW?

You can leave your comments and input below, if you'd like.

Google hopes the feedback from this project will be helpful and useful so that this information can make algorithm changes that improve all search suggestions.

Hopefully, in my opinion, this project won't backfire, causing true high quality content to be pulled from the searches, mistaking it for problematic. They will have to get several of the same complaints probably to pull it.

It's too bad that there are people out there who abuse the system. But, Google is right on top of it! This really puts into perspective how important it is to write genuine, high quality content, and develop a trustworthy website! Now you know why Google ranks you up so high if you do!

If you wish, please LIKE and SHARE this "high quality content" to spread the news!

Erin :)!