Google’s Preferred Sources feature, launched August 13, 2024, lets users handpick news outlets that appear prominently in Top Stories search results. Currently available in the US and India for English searches, the feature creates a dedicated “From your sources” section below main headlines. Users can select unlimited outlets to avoid restrictive news bubbles and improve content diversity. Early testing revealed over half of users chose four or more sources, prompting Google’s full rollout to combat spam sites and improve search personalization—though deeper implications await exploration.
Personalization takes center stage as Google officially launches Preferred Sources, a new feature that lets users handpick which news outlets appear prominently in their Top Stories search results. Announced through Google’s product blog on August 13, 2024, this customization tool represents the search giant’s latest major algorithm modification following AI Overviews and AI Mode.
The feature addresses a growing user frustration: wading through low-quality spam sites and excessive sponsored content cluttering news searches. Now, when you search for breaking news or current events, your selected sources get VIP treatment in the Top Stories section. Think of it as creating a custom news feed within Google Search itself, where your trusted outlets rise to the top when they publish novel, pertinent content. Engaging on social media can also be a strategy to share trusted information with your audience, as it allows businesses to build trust and relationships with their followers. As businesses increasingly utilize social media marketing, they can enhance their visibility and engagement with audiences.
Getting started requires searching for any news-related topic, then clicking an icon next to the Top Stories header. The interface provides a search function to find and select specific news organizations, allowing users to build their preferred list from multiple outlets. After selecting sources and renewing the search results page, the magic happens—your chosen publications appear prominently when covering topics matching your queries.
Google maintains editorial balance by ensuring preferred sources only surface when they’ve published recent content matching search topics. The system won’t artificially boost your favorite outlet if they haven’t covered the story you’re researching. Results still display a mix of publications, preserving visibility for non-preferred sources while creating a dedicated “From your sources” section below the main Top Stories area.
Early testing during the experimental Labs phase revealed telling user behavior patterns. Over half of participants selected four or more preferred sources, suggesting people genuinely want more control over their news consumption rather than algorithmic suggestions alone. This data likely influenced Google’s decision to graduate the feature from experimental status to full product rollout.
The launch comes with geographic limitations that feel oddly restrictive for 2024. Currently, only users in the United States and India can access Preferred Sources, and only for English-language searches. Google hasn’t announced expansion plans for additional countries or languages, leaving international users wondering when they’ll join the personalization party.
This move signals Google’s broader strategy of giving users more agency over their search experience while maintaining content diversity. The feature tackles legitimate concerns about information quality without completely eliminating exposure to different perspectives—a delicate balance in today’s polarized media environment. Users can add unlimited sources to their preferred list, which may help prevent the creation of restrictive news bubbles.
For publishers, Preferred Sources creates both opportunity and anxiety. Outlets lucky enough to land on users’ preferred lists could see significant traffic boosts, while others might worry about decreased visibility. The feature fundamentally democratizes editorial curation, putting readers in the driver’s seat of their news consumption.
As the rollout continues across target markets, Preferred Sources represents Google’s acknowledgment that one-size-fits-all search results no longer satisfy increasingly sophisticated users demanding personalized, trustworthy information sources.