Google has abandoned its page annotations function in the iOS application, which automatically added search links to web pages.
The functionality was introduced at the end of last year and converted certain texts from the website into Google research links without consent of the publisher.
Recent updates confirm that it is no longer supported.
Short and controversial
The annotations of the page was announced for the first time in November and drew attention to its potential to divert the traffic from websites.
This feature automatically converted the text to the page into bonds that led visitors to Google search results.
Unlike similar features in Google’s ecosystem, page annotations used a deactivation model, which means that publishers did not need to oppose.
If you did not want Google to insert links in your content, you had to submit a withdrawal form and the modifications would take effect within 30 days.
Silent withdrawal
Google has deleted all the mentions of the annotations function on its official page documentation On “Check what you share with Google”.
The updated text describes various methods so that the publishers control the appearance of their content in research results, but does not mention the functionality now decontulated.
In addition, the ad On Google community forums, has been deleted.
A archive The announcement of the ad remains available. See it in the screenshot below:
Screenshot of: web.archive.org, March 2025.Why reversal?
Although Google has not publicly exposed the reasons to stop the page annotations, the introduction of functionality came at a sensitive time for the company, which was confronted increased examination During its research and advertising practices.
The functionality has raised concerns about Google’s relationship with publishers. By inserting its links to the content of others without explicit authorization, Google influenced the way people have interacted with websites in its application.
Why this counts
The rapid stop of Google of page annotations suggests that he could reassess his publisher relations due to Antitrust concerns.
Publishers no longer have to worry about Google adding links to their content in the iOS application.
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