Confirmed Google algorithm updates with severity, scope and what they mean for Wix sites. Last checked 13:12.
Google introduced a new spam policy targeting "back-button hijacking" - sites that force users into unwanted destinations when they hit back.
This update makes back-button hijacking an explicit violation of the malicious practices spam policy. Wix sites using third-party redirect or pop-under code should audit immediately. Manual actions are possible for sites caught using these techniques.
A broad core update to the systems that surface articles in Google Discover, with Wix-relevant impact for blog and news content.
Initially rolled out to English-language users in the US, then expanding globally. Discover traffic fluctuations are expected. Wix sites publishing news, lifestyle or how-to content should review their Discover-eligible articles, image quality and engagement signals.
Google began phasing out lesser-used SERP features and structured data types as part of an ongoing simplification effort.
Several rich result types were retired or de-emphasised. Wix store and content site owners should audit which structured data they output via Wix native SEO tools and Velo, and remove markup for retired features to avoid validation noise.
Google updated its site reputation abuse spam policy to address third-party content published to exploit a host site's ranking.
Reaffirmed in January 2025 with an FAQ. Wix sites that host third-party coupon, review or guest sections in subfolders (a common ecommerce tactic) should make sure that content is genuinely related to the host brand and not produced primarily to manipulate rankings.
A core ranking update designed to surface more genuinely useful content and reduce content made primarily to perform well on Search.
This was the first core update after the March 2024 changes integrated the helpful content system into core ranking. Wix sites that recovered or declined should compare their content against Google's "self-assessment" questions and the helpful content guidance.
Google's most significant ranking change in years - integrating the helpful content system into core ranking and adding three new spam policies.
New spam policies covered expired domain abuse, scaled content abuse and site reputation abuse. The helpful content system effectively merged with core ranking. Wix sites with thin AI-generated content or expired-domain redirects faced major impact.
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