A recent bug in Google’s search ranking system has been causing significant disruptions in search results. This bug is unrelated to the latest core update, known as the August 2024 core update, which was announced on the previous day. The bug was confirmed by Google at around 2 am ET and the company has already identified the root cause. Google has assured users that this issue will be resolved within the next 24 hours.
John Mueller from Google acknowledged the bug on LinkedIn, stating that occasional system issues are inevitable and the company strives to be transparent about them. He emphasized that this bug is separate from the ongoing core update rollout and apologized for the inconvenience caused. Google plans to provide updates on the search status dashboard as the situation evolves, both for this bug and the core update.
It is important to note that any ranking changes experienced by websites over the past 24 hours are likely due to this search ranking bug and not the August 2024 core update. The core update will be implemented gradually over the course of a month, while the bug is expected to be fixed within the next day. It is advised to disregard any ranking changes observed during this time and stay tuned for further updates.
Barry Schwartz, a technologist and Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land, provides insights on the issue. Schwartz is also a member of the programming team for SMX events and the owner of RustyBrick, a web consulting firm based in New York. He is well-known in the search engine marketing (SEM) field and runs the popular search blog, Search Engine Roundtable. Schwartz has received several accolades, including the Outstanding Community Services Award from Search Engine Land in 2019 and the “US Search Personality Of The Year” award at the US Search Awards in 2018.
For the latest updates on this bug and other search engine news, consider adding Search Engine Land to your Google News feed. Stay informed and stay patient as Google works to resolve this issue and continue with the core update rollout.
