Google has announced that it will discontinue its “people cards” feature in Google Search on April 7.
The decision comes after Google realized that the feature was not as useful for users as initially expected.
Person Cards were introduced in 2020 to make it easier for people to highlight information about themselves on Google Search, such as websites and social profiles. The feature was initially launched in India, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, but people in other countries could access it using a VPN.
In an email sent to users who created People Cards, Google said:
“While People Cards worked as intended, in the years since its launch, we’ve learned that this feature wasn’t as useful to people as we had hoped.”
Google allows users to download or save content from their People Cards until May 7, after which the information will be deleted.
Background: People cards as a virtual business card
Persona cards were designed to serve as virtual business cards, helping professionals, performers, influencers, entrepreneurs, job seekers and freelancers establish a remarkable online presence.
This feature was useful for people who shared a common name or had difficulty gaining visibility in search results.
The card included fields for a user’s name, location, job, a short “About” section, and optional links to social profiles and other relevant information.
Impact and future implications
Deprecating People Cards will only affect this specific feature of Google Search and will not affect other Google products or services. However, the change may be disappointing for users who have relied on the feature to establish their online presence and improve their visibility in search results.
Google’s decision to retire People Cards raises questions about the future of similar features designed to help people showcase their personal information and professional accomplishments online.
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, companies like Google evaluate the effectiveness of new features to ensure they provide meaningful value to their users.
Retiring features that don’t provide adequate value allows Google to allocate resources to more useful tools.
Google will send a reminder to users as the April 7 termination date approaches.
Frequently asked questions
What was the purpose of Google’s ‘people cards’ feature and how did it benefit individuals?
Google’s “People Cards” were intended as virtual business cards to help professionals, performers, influencers, entrepreneurs, job seekers and freelancers improve their visibility online. Cards allowed individuals to have their information, such as websites and social profiles, featured in Google Search. It was especially beneficial for those with well-known names or low search visibility. This feature included various fields for personal and professional details, contributing to the individual’s digital presence and search recognition.
How does Google’s abandonment of ‘people cards’ affect users and the wider digital landscape?
The deprecation of “People Cards” will primarily affect people who have used this feature to improve their search visibility on Google. Users may now have to look for alternative methods to establish their online presence. The change calls for a broader consideration of the future viability of similar personal information showcase tools in the digital ecosystem. Google’s decision reflects an ongoing reevaluation process, allowing the company to focus on developing features that are more beneficial to its users.
What should current users of Google’s ‘People Cards’ do in light of the feature’s upcoming outage?
Users who have created People Cards should download or save their content by May 7, after which their information will be permanently deleted from Google’s systems. Google will remind users of the next suspension date as April 7 approaches to ensure they have enough time to save their data. People who rely on the feature should explore other avenues of personal branding and improving online visibility.
Featured image: Tada Images/Shutterstock
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