Google has started to add search links into webpages in the iOS version of the Google App.
In practice, this means that the Google App has started to automatically hyperlink some text on websites to Google Search results, as announced in a community post spotted by SERoundtable.
Google calls this new feature “Page Annotations” and says that it “extract[s] interesting entities from the webpage and highlight them in line”.
When a user clicks on the links, they get shown a Google Search results related to the annotation.
However, neither the site user or owner is asked whether they are happy with the arrangement. To be clear, this only happens within the Google App (which users typically interactive with first via a Google search) rather than in the Chrome or Safari apps.
Web publishers are able to opt websites they manage out of this feature by submitting a form entry, though it will take 30 days to come into effect on your site.
Earlier this year, Google introduced a similar feature in “ad intents”. Google introduced this to the Ad Sense platform and it automatically places links that display “relevant, organic search results with ads” on website text. Site owners opt into ad intents, however, rather than opting out.
It is perhaps curious that Google has launched the new tool when it is currently facing several antitrust lawsuits alleging that it has abused its monopoly-like power over the digital ad and internet browser markets.
