You Can Now Hide Ads in Google Search.
Did you know you can configure Google to filter out junk? Follow these steps to improve your search results, including adding my work on Lifehacker as a preferred source .
Google ads are typically a real pain. Not only are they often unrelated to your search queries, but they can also be malicious : you might think you’re clicking on an official link to what you were looking for, but you’re actually being redirected somewhere completely different. Given all the new AI features Google has implemented in recent years, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to get the search results you’re looking for .
But there’s some good news: as The Verge originally reported , Google’s sponsored ads have become a little less annoying. Previously, they appeared one after another, each under a separate “Sponsored” heading. Now, you’ll see just one “Sponsored” heading, with all the sponsored links listed underneath. And the best part? By scrolling to the bottom of this content block, you can collapse all the sponsored links, hiding all ads from search results.
This is a small but useful change for those tired of annoying Google ads every time they search. Google makes most of its money from search ads, so the company will never get rid of them completely. But giving you the option to hide them, even if you only see this option after scrolling down the page, skipping all ads is a step in the right direction.
Of course, if you decide to use an ad blocker , you won’t have to worry about ads appearing in search results. In fact, if you already use an ad blocker, you might not have known about this change. However, ad blockers aren’t suitable for everyone and can harm small websites that rely on advertising revenue, even though they protect you from malicious (and intrusive) ads.
If you choose not to use an ad blocker, these changes may make your Google search results experience at least a little better.