Google updates Search to prioritize user-selected news outlets

The feature allows individuals to manually select their favorite publishers by clicking an icon located beside the Top Stories label. Once configured, these outlets receive priority placement in the main feed and often appear in a dedicated From Your Sources section. Google has confirmed there is no cap on the number of sources a user can add, and those who participated in the initial June testing phase will see their previous preferences migrated automatically.

This manual curation tool arrives as Google faces scrutiny over the impact of its AI-driven search results on external web traffic. While the company recently defended its traffic metrics—asserting that click volumes remain stable and pointing toward a user preference for authentic, human-generated content like podcasts and forums—this update shifts control back to the individual reader. By enabling users to bypass algorithmic suggestions in favor of trusted brands, Google provides a rare, non-AI mechanism for tailoring the search experience.