We saw Google reveal quite a few features and goodies at its I/O 2024 developer conference on May 14. Amidst all the AI talk, Google Search got a valuable update that needs to be talked about. Remember the good old days when Search only showed you text-based links that actually mattered? Well, those days may be back as Google calls back to the past with the addition of a new "web" filter in Google Search. We've launched a new "web" filter that only shows text-based links, just as you can filter to show other types of results, like images or videos. The filter appears at the top of the results page alongside other filters or as part of the "More" option and launches today… pic.twitter.com/tIUy9LNCy5 — Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) May 14, 2024
Remove a URL from Google Search | 2 ways to easily remove pages from appearing in search results
We've launched a new "web" filter that only shows text-based links, just as you can filter to show other types of results, like images or videos. The filter appears at the top of the results page alongside other filters or as part of the "More" option and launches today… pic.twitter.com/tIUy9LNCy5 — Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) May 14, 2024
Google Search liaison Danny Sullivan took to X to announce this new feature. And we're here to welcome it with open arms, provided it works as intended. I haven't gotten access to the feature yet, but an early look at it gives me high hopes.
After enabling this filter, your search results page will only contain text-based web links (yes, with ads, of course). In other words, from the annoying shopping panels to panel discussions or YouTube videos, the filter blocks everything.
