Skip to main content

Google cracking down on annoying mobile popup ads by penalizing search rankings

google mobile popup ads results
Image used with permission by copyright holder
The mobile web is growing quickly as consumers turn to their smartphones, but some of the bad practices of web advertisers on the desktop are starting to show up on mobile as well. Google is having none of it, and has announced that it may start penalizing developers who employ such practices starting next year.

Google will continue to give precedence to sites with design that are optimal for mobile use, but will remove the “mobile-friendly” label it used to highlight such sites. 85 percent of all sites now are usable on mobile devices, so Google no longer saw this as necessary.

New to its ranking criteria is a check for what is called an “interstitial.” A good example are the ads that appear before you’re given access to the content, or appear “over” the content. Developers have even gotten good enough that Google still can index the content below the interstitial, even though you can’t see it.

Google will check for interstitials after January 10, 2017. “Pages that show intrusive interstitials provide a poorer experience to users than other pages where content is immediately accessible,” product manager Doantam Phan said. “This can be problematic on mobile devices where screens are often smaller.”

Phan does say there are some interstitials which wouldn’t be affected by the new policy, including those that alert about cookie usage or ask a user to verify their age, or ones that take up a “reasonable” amount of screen space. Phan pointed to the installation of banners as an example of a reasonable use of space.

Despite the new rules, relevance of content is still a very strong ranking signal, so there still could be cases where sites that use interstitials in a way that Google now frowns upon still rank high in results. “The intent of the search query is still a very strong signal, so a page may still rank highly if it has great, relevant content,” Phan explained.

Editors' Recommendations

Ed Oswald
For fifteen years, Ed has written about the latest and greatest in gadgets and technology trends. At Digital Trends, he's…
Google I/O returns as an in-person event on May 11-12
Logo for Google I/O 2022

Google I/O, the tech giant's largest annual developer's conference, will return as an in-person event at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, from May 11-12. Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai made the announcement on Twitter on Wednesday.

The conference won't be a fully in-person event, however. The event will be held fully online, with most of it being livestreamed in front of a limited live theater audience, much like Apple's Peek Performance event last week. According to a Google statement shared with Axios' chief technology correspondent Ina Fried, that limited audience "will primarily be Googlers, as well as some partners."

Read more
How to use Google Maps
Google Assistant on Google Maps

Google Maps has long served as the go-to navigation tool for millions of phones, tablets, cars, and smart wearables. While everyone is probably familiar with using Google Maps to get from point A to point B, there are a multitude of multitool-like extras hiding under the hood that are worth highlighting. Over the years, Google has added features that allow you to save your favorite places, share your location with friends, and get personalized recommendations. Here is how to use Google Maps more useful but lesser-known features, like incognito mode, AR live view, sharing your location in real-time, and even finding the nearest COVID vaccination and testing site.
How to play your tunes

With all the understandable focus on driving directions and the depth of Google Maps itself, it's easy to forget Google Maps also features music controls for popular music services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Google Play Music (Android only). Here's how to get the party started.

Read more
Pixel 3a confirmed to get Android 12L even as Google winds down Pixel 3 support
Google Pixel 3a XL hands on.

With the announcement of Android 12L, Google shared a list of Pixel phones expected to receive the beta when it began the testing period in December. While the Pixel 3 was understandably absent, Google also didn't include the newer Pixel 3a -- which was taken as an indication that it was likely not going to get the newer Android version when it rolls out. Fortunately, that's not the case, as Google confirmed to Digital Trends over email that it was an oversight and documentation would be updated shortly.

According to Google, the Android 12L beta will be going out to the following Pixel phones: Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6, Pixel 5a with 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 4a, and Pixel 4.  It will not be coming to the Pixel 3, which received its last guaranteed update with Android 12. The Pixel 3's exclusion is a little weird, though. Launched in May of 2019, Google promises updates for up to three years post-launch. As indicated by the company's Pixel software support list, this means the Pixel 3a should expect major updates through May of 2022.

Read more