Google is rolling out the new Discover feed on mobile. This will allow you to discover more information—and find more relevant information—right from the Google homepage before you’ve even searched for anything. Or at least that’s the plan.
Historically, the Google homepage has mostly been free of clutter. It’s comprised mostly of white space, with the Google logo front and center, and the all-important Search box at its core. But Google is now changing things up, at least on mobile.
Google Launches Discover on Mobile
In September, Google announced Discover. This is the new name for the Google feed, which hundreds of millions of people already use. Discover is a step up from the Google feed, with more topics and types of content, and new ways to personalize the experience.
In a nutshell, the Google homepage will now be populated with cards containing information Google thinks will interest you. This will be based on your search history and preferences, so Discover will evolve over time as you search for more things.
With a new name, fresh look and updated features, Discover helps you find new information and inspiration in Search, no query required ? https://t.co/uZn4DCJM65 #SearchIs20 pic.twitter.com/EyrEtyFu4M
— Google (@Google) September 24, 2018
You’ll see news articles, sports results, YouTube videos, photo galleries, and more. You can finetune your Discover feed by clicking on the menu for each card. You can then indicate you’re not interested in the topic, block the site being mentioned, and more besides.
As well as the option to customize your Discover feed, you can also disable it altogether. Just click on Settings, then Discover, and choose either “Don’t show on homepage” or “Turn off Discover” either using the app or a web browser.
Google Takes a Risk on Information
This is a risky move by Google. People are used to the homepage being clean and clutter-free, so populating it with cards could prove to be overwhelming, or, dare I say it, annoying. So it’s a good job you can customize Discover or even turn it off altogether.
Discover is currently only available on mobile in the United States. So if you visit Google.com using Chrome or Safari you should see your feed taking shape. Which makes this the perfect time to read our definitive guide to Google Search.
Image Credit: Caccamo/Flickr
Read the full article: Google Launches Discover to Clutter Up Its Homepage
