Google just changed how Discover works. Here’s what it means for you.
No jargon. No fluff. Just a clear explanation of what changed, why Google did it, and what you should actually do about it.
If you’ve been using Google Discover as a traffic source, you’ve probably noticed how unpredictable it can be. One week you’re getting thousands of clicks. The next week? Almost nothing. And half the time, there’s no obvious reason why.
Google knows this has been a problem. And their February 2026 Core Update is their attempt to fix it — by cleaning up a lot of the dirty tricks that have been messing up the Discover feed for years.
Let’s break it down simply.
First — what was actually broken?
Before we talk about what’s changing, it helps to understand what Google was trying to fix. Three specific behaviors were polluting the Discover feed.
Trick #1 — The Back Button Trap
You click on an article in your Discover feed. You read it. You tap the back button to return to your feed. But instead of going back — you get redirected to the website’s homepage or some random page entirely.
This was completely intentional. Some websites were doing this to keep you stuck on their site longer and inflate their traffic numbers. It’s annoying, it’s manipulative, and Google is now penalizing anyone who does it.
Trick #2 — Fake News on Stolen Credibility
Here’s a sneaky one. Some publishers were buying expired domain names from universities and schools — domains that Google already trusted because of their history. Then they’d fill those sites with fake, sensational news articles using AI-generated images to look legitimate.
The result? Real, honest publishers were losing Discover traffic to completely made-up content dressed up in borrowed credibility. This update shuts that down.
Trick #3 — The Article Switcheroo
Imagine a restaurant showing you a beautiful photo of a steak on the menu — and then bringing you a plain sandwich when you sit down. That’s essentially what some websites were doing on Discover.
They’d show Google one article to get it picked up in the feed. Once a user clicked, the page would automatically swap out the content and load a completely different article. Pure manipulation. Now penalized.
“Google isn’t just updating an algorithm. It’s shutting down specific scams that have been stealing traffic from honest publishers for years.”
So what’s actually changing now?
Beyond cracking down on bad behavior, Google is actively shifting what Discover rewards. Three big changes:
Change 1 — Local content gets more love
If you’re in Mumbai and reading your Discover feed, Google now wants to show you more content from Indian publishers — not just big international outlets covering the same stories from halfway around the world.
This is genuinely good news for regional and local publishers. Your location and local relevance now work in your favor more than they did before.
💡 If you cover local news, regional topics, or city-specific content — this update is a real opportunity. Double down on what makes you local.
Change 2 — Clickbait gets pushed down
You know those headlines that make you feel like the world is ending just to get you to click? Google is now actively demoting that kind of content in Discover.
If your traffic strategy has relied on shocking or misleading headlines, you’re going to feel this update. It’s time to write headlines that are interesting and honest — not just one or the other.
Change 3 — Being an expert in your niche actually pays off now
This is the most important change for most publishers. Google is now asking: does this website actually know what it’s talking about?
A website that publishes only about health and medicine will get more Discover traffic for a health article than a general news site that occasionally covers health topics. Depth beats breadth. Consistent expertise in one area now matters a lot.
On top of that — freshness counts. Publishing regularly signals to Google that your site is active, relevant, and worth showing people.
What should you actually do?
Google gave four clear technical signals that will influence your Discover performance. Here’s each one explained simply:
- Make your pages load fast ⚡
Your articles should load in 2–3 seconds or less on mobile. If they’re slower than that, a lot of people are bouncing before they even read a word. Test your speed on Google PageSpeed Insights and fix whatever’s dragging it down. AMP is also worth considering if speed is a real issue for you.
- Use a proper feature image 🖼️
Discover is a visual feed — your image is the first thing people see. It needs to be at least 1200 pixels wide, sharp, and actually relevant to the article. A blurry, tiny, or generic stock photo will hurt your click-through rate significantly.
- Write articles people actually want to read 📖
This sounds obvious, but it matters more now. Use clear headings, short paragraphs, and make sure your article delivers exactly what the headline promises. Structure your content so someone can skim it and still get the key points.
- Publish consistently 📅
Google wants to see that you’re an active, reliable source. Aiming for around 10 quality articles per day is the benchmark given — though the emphasis is on quality, not just volume. Publishing 10 thin articles a day won’t help. Publishing 10 genuinely useful ones in your niche will.
⚠️ A word of caution on volume: Don’t rush to hit a number at the cost of quality. Publishing low-effort content at high frequency will likely make things worse, not better. Google can tell the difference.
When will you see results?
Google says the full impact of this update will take a couple of weeks to roll out completely. So don’t panic if your numbers look weird in the short term — things are still settling.
If your traffic drops noticeably, first check whether your site was accidentally caught by any of the three problem behaviors above. If you’re a clean publisher and your traffic dips anyway, give it 2–4 weeks. The update is also designed to lift legitimate publishers who were being suppressed by bad actors.
Google has also promised a follow-up review once they’ve seen how the update plays out — which suggests they’re treating this as an ongoing effort, not a one-time fix.
Read More: Google Core Update June 2025