Google has announced the end of its spam update, which began on March 5, along with a core update.
The spam update, which took approximately two weeks to fully deploy, targeted content production at scale, expired domain misuse, and abuse of authority.
The core update, which incorporates the “Useful Content” rating into the core algorithm, is still ongoing and is expected to take about four weeks in total.
Spam update rollout complete
On March 20 at 6:09 PDT, Google confirmed that the Spam Update rollout had concluded.
The ad came through a Google search status update panel.
This marks the end of an update designed to combat low-quality spam, especially AI-generated content and websites that abuse their authority by renting subdomains and directories to third parties.
Impact on websites and search results
The final rollout of the Spam Update brings new clarity to the search landscape as publishers and SEO professionals can now assess the full impact of the changes.
Early data from SISTRICH revealed significant gains and losses in several domains, with some websites experiencing complete removal from Google’s search index.
A study by Originality.ai found that 100% of de-indexed websites showed signs of AI-generated content, and half of the sites had 90-100% of their posts generated by AI.
This suggests that Google’s spam update effectively targeted websites that rely heavily on AI to manipulate search rankings and generate low-quality content at scale.
Core update still in progress
While the spam update rollout has concluded, the core update, which started simultaneously, is still ongoing.
Google has indicated that the core update will take a few more weeks to complete as it integrates the “Useful Content” rating into the core algorithm.
As the core update continues, SEO professionals and content creators should focus on creating original, high-value content that resonates with their target audience.
Google Search Liaison Danny Sullivan urged patience and caution, stressing the importance of waiting for the update to fully complete before making significant changes in response to ranking fluctuations.
I would let the update complete before deciding if there are any fundamental changes you want to make. There may be nothing to do.
Your place looks clean and nice. Passing by the place, I see [steak pie] as one of your featured recipes. You are on the carousel and…
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) March 15, 2024
Adaptation to the new search landscape
With the release of the Spam Update now complete, website owners and content creators can begin to adapt to the new search landscape. This may involve auditing existing content, reworking AI-generated material, and prioritizing human creativity and editorial oversight.
As the SEO community continues to monitor the impact of both updates, it’s clear that Google remains committed to promoting original, high-value content and combating low-quality spam.
The full impact of these updates will become more apparent in the coming weeks as the core update completes its rollout and search results adjust to their new patterns.
Featured Image: Bayu Eka Y/Shutterstock
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