Starting Wednesday, Google will be removing the continuous scrolling feature from its search results, which allows users to see an endless list of results without clicking to the next page. This change aims to deliver faster results to users, as most people tend to only look at the top few search results.
Chirag Shah, a professor at the University of Washington, explains that this change is part of a larger shift at Google to influence user behavior. By narrowing down the list of search results, Google is guiding users to focus more on specific information rather than giving them a wide array of options. The implementation of AI Overviews, where a large language model summarizes information from top search results, is part of this shift towards more personalized and concise search results.
While this new feature is beneficial for users looking for quick answers, it may pose challenges for content creators and digital advertising companies relying on clicks for revenue. The shift to AI-generated search results can potentially impact their monetization strategies, as AI tools require more processing power and electricity, making them more expensive to operate.
On the other hand, Google is leveraging AI to enhance user experience and retain users on its platform. The company’s focus on developing AI technology is seen as a way to stay competitive in the evolving search landscape and provide users with more interactive and personalized search experiences. However, the long-term implications of this shift on revenue generation and advertising strategies remain uncertain.
Overall, Google’s decision to remove continuous scrolling and implement AI Overviews represents a significant change in how users interact with search results. While it offers benefits in terms of speed and efficiency, it also raises questions about the future of content monetization and digital advertising in the age of AI-driven search engines.
Article Source
https://www.marketplace.org/2024/06/26/google-puts-an-end-to-continuous-scroll/
