Recent Comments on Search Engine Roundtable

John A. User commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

AI will burst the same way the .com bubble did, investors will get hurt, and not all the AI companies around today will still be around when the bubble bursts. Anthropic & ChatGPT are losing more money than they are making; they are being helped by the big 2 (Microsoft/ChatGPT) and (Google/Anthropic). When the bubble bursts, MS & G will consume the best bits of the companies that they were supporting. AI will likely stay around for a very long time because it is being pushed down our throats whether we like it or not. We are not getting any alternative, well, Google does have web results, but hides that and even then, for my sites, they push YouTube all the effing time. All the videos are the same scenes from games.

Comment ID #6828922335 01/25/2026 04:27 pm

The291IQ_Equalizer commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

on a side note, I also checked ed zitron that I followed around 23-24 guy's every post is still "the ai bubble" he had very good posts and exposed google's evil ad policies and stuff but he is also kinda copping and in a loop of his own AI is not a phucking bubble in the sense that it will stay here forever it's not going to deliver as fast as expected (it's still stuck in 2022) also many of his posts are paid well phuck that whoever wants to pay for "AI is losing money how they gonna find money vol. 4000" is free to do it everything is dead, stangant, even the opposition it's gg to anyone who just go his sitre destroyed - go back on this site and read the comments you can go as far back as 2012- it's all the same loop

Comment ID #6828910806 01/25/2026 04:07 pm

Sensei commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

That was a good idea. These guys probably took over that "daddy" blog now. <a href="https://x.com/Aku_700/status/2014572847604404522">https://x.com/Aku_700/status/2014572847604404522</a>

Comment ID #6828910761 01/25/2026 04:07 pm

Jerome H commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

Hi, I can ensure you I moved on from that daddy blog in 2016 or something like that. Then I launched my new website, even the name dadmadeinbritain was not very good!

Comment ID #6828869210 01/25/2026 02:52 pm

Jerome H commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

Don’t worry, I’m actually glad you noticed, because I genuinely had no clue. Honestly, I’m very confused with Google right now. In my niche you now have loads of Indian/Chinese sites ranking above everyone else when they clearly haven’t reviewed anything. Google keeps talking about E-E-A-T, and I get it (I’m all for that ) but I don’t understand why Search is boosting websites that don’t seem to have any real E-E-A-T in the first place. It also looks like there were updates around 7 January and again around 21 January. Last year, in April, I got hit hard but I bounced back quite quickly. This time, though, it feels different like the algorithm is a really broken.

Comment ID #6828860349 01/25/2026 02:37 pm

Sensei commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

What you said was spot on based on his now deleted original comment. That's why I also replied to that thread in agreement. Like you said, assuming he's telling the truth that the site is no longer his, he at least deserves the benefit of the doubt since he posted that clarification.

Comment ID #6828822167 01/25/2026 01:34 pm

Mark commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

No problem at all, any feedback was solely based on that site still being yours, if its not then its obviously all null and void and I've absolutely no idea why you've lost your traffic :D I've complained multiple times about my little hobby site, sounds similar - blog, amazon links and whatnot. I just can't make it viable to keep going with it. Reviewing items costs me too much, potentially dozens of hours of time and however much £ buying, using, photographing, writing up etc etc To then be outranked by some indian tech blog or an office junior on a uk newspaper who's so fat they couldn't even have safely used the product, using amazon pics and descriptions.... I can't do that. im out

Comment ID #6828818598 01/25/2026 01:28 pm

Mark commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

I was trying to not be overly rude but it was clear that that site he was posting under, was a shit site and didn't deserve to rank for anything. I did point out he needs to fix his amazon disclosure too or risk a ban, I was trying to help. If its not his site fair enough, I have since checked and the domain did drop in 2023 so I would assume he's telling the truth that its now not his.

Comment ID #6828815862 01/25/2026 01:24 pm

Sensei commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

It's all good. He elaborated on what happened with his follow up comment. It turns out it was no longer his site. in most instances like that with first time posters and show their domain, they're spammers from Scumdar's outdoor toilet homeland and pretending to be mystified why their scraped content site tanked. Nice is last thing I'll be to them, who ruin it for the rest of us with legitimate businesses. No mercy. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4889daaca705bda996110e3f3877743712d9a45cf7751c509d01a22ce6db5db1.jpg

Comment ID #6828809694 01/25/2026 01:14 pm

DataDonkey commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

Looks like there may have been some back room deals going on with the Epic -vs- Google lawsuit that Google lost, which the judge is now questioning. This looks like the corrupting power of big tech money that can turn a plaintiff who sued and won a lawsuit against Google into a Google partner. <b>Epic and Google have a secret $800 million Unreal Engine and services deal</b> - <a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/866140/epic-google-fortnite-android-unreal-deal-antitrust-settlement">https://www.theverge.com/policy/866140/epic-google-fortnite-android-unreal-deal-antitrust-settlement</a> <blockquote>A judge is questioning whether Epic Games and Google are settling their long-running antitrust fight partly because of a previously unannounced partnership involving the Unreal Engine, Fortnite, and Android. In a hearing in San Francisco today, the court revealed that Epic and Google have struck a new deal that apparently includes “joint product development, joint marketing commitment, joint partnerships.” California District Judge James Donato expressed concerns that the agreement — which he indicated would involve Epic “helping Google market Android” and Google newly “using Epic’s core technology” — could have led Epic to soften its demands for changes to the overall Android ecosystem.</blockquote>

Comment ID #6828797986 01/25/2026 12:53 pm

Sensei commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

I didn't mean you deleted it. I should have said OP to avoid confusion. It looked like he deleted his own comment like a pssy when Mark called out the shitty site. He just posted a new comment again and at least cleared up why he deleted it.

Comment ID #6828796810 01/25/2026 12:51 pm

Barry Schwartz commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

I did not delete any comment here, it seems it was deleted by the user who posted it.

Comment ID #6828795968 01/25/2026 12:49 pm

Jerome H commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

OK, so I’ll try again. I haven’t used Disqus in years. Back in 2013 I started a daddy blog called dadmadeinbritain, but I stopped it after a few years. Earlier today I posted a comment and realised someone has bought my old domain and now has a website on it. That’s not me, and I felt it was more accurate to change my name on Disqus to avoid any confusion. I also thought it was best to delete my comment. I sincerely apologise if it gave you the wrong impression. I can assure you I don’t have any dodgy site, and yes, I always disclose affiliate links and anything else that needs to be disclosed. Also, realistically, I don’t think a dodgy site (like the one mentioned) would get around 100K monthly readers. I’ve been blogging for years and my audience is built on trust. Sorry again if it came across the wrong way, I was in panic mode for a minute.

Comment ID #6828792254 01/25/2026 12:43 pm

Sam commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

Be nice. He is going though fall down, this is the reality of some sites now.

Comment ID #6828786432 01/25/2026 12:33 pm

Sam commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

He's deleted his post now. I feel sorry for him, I hope that he get's his traffic back and pushes to social media.

Comment ID #6828785677 01/25/2026 12:32 pm

Sensei commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

That is true with Google. Also, Mark's truth bomb was too much for the scraped shit site creator, and the pssy already deleted his comment.

Comment ID #6828784249 01/25/2026 12:29 pm

Sam commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

Wait it out. Things will get better. In the meantime build up your social media.

Comment ID #6828783070 01/25/2026 12:27 pm

FokGoogle commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

Traffic to some of my sites is down 90 percent since 2022. So I am in the same boat. But I paywalled traffic to certain sections of some sites and whatever new visitors that still come in, I try to convert into paying members. This can be lucrative.

Comment ID #6828766900 01/25/2026 12:00 pm

DataDonkey commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

<blockquote>all your stolen, duplicated, zero value add content</blockquote>Same could be said of Google's AI Slop Overviews and AI Scrode Mode. Google steals and spins content from multiple sources and uses their distribution dominance to publish the spun output as their own. This renders those original sources as zero value since Google has stolen their content and traffic.

Comment ID #6828763734 01/25/2026 11:55 am

Barry Schwartz commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

right, makes no sense.

Comment ID #6828724563 01/25/2026 10:46 am

Mark commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

I don't understand why Disqus don't give way more benefit of doubt to someone who's been commenting on a site for months or even years. There's loads of people who've been commenting for 12+ months then moaning about posts going awol. If its your first comment then okay spam queue it if not sure... but its extremely unlikely someone who's commented dozens of times over a year or longer is suddenly going to go rogue with the spamming lol

Comment ID #6828723580 01/25/2026 10:44 am

Barry Schwartz commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

that is what I am thinking. hoping it learns as I approve them over time...

Comment ID #6828720716 01/25/2026 10:39 am

Mark commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

I never posted a url as I figured that would likely spam can it, but perhaps my disguised attempt to post a url triggered it?

Comment ID #6828720225 01/25/2026 10:38 am

Barry Schwartz commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

found it, approved it - no idea why Disqus is so sensitive with that post. makes no sense.

Comment ID #6828719413 01/25/2026 10:36 am

Mark commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

I guess nobody else will know now as Shitqus has marked it as spam. Shouldn't have bothered spending 5 mins writing that.

Comment ID #6828718452 01/25/2026 10:34 am

Sam commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

This is harsh reality

Comment ID #6828705824 01/25/2026 10:08 am

Mark commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

If my family was relying on that site I'd have taken way better care of it. The only surprising thing with traffic loss on one like this is the owner didn't appear to see it coming, or think they deserved it. Look at /product/ajuny-leather-briefcase/ on your site. Your entire content is stolen from amazon - the images, the copy/pasted text. You've created a worse user experience for internet searchers having to pass through that zero value add page. You're taking about being replaced with sites doing things google says it hates... but your site is pretty bad on that front too. I think if you made it to 2026 with this site you were extremely lucky... most people with sites like this were forced out years ago. Weird looking IP's aren't damaging your seo... all your stolen, duplicated, zero value add content is. Plus where is the affiliate disclosure? You've got a shopping cart button to fake being a shop.... click BUY and Im transported to amazon. Absolutely awful for the user experience. edit - you're breaking Amazon T&C's with this, I would at the very least sort this issue out, you could get kicked out of the amazon affil program if you don't.

Comment ID #6828697739 01/25/2026 09:49 am

Jantje commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

Yep, same problem here. Exactly on December 12th. You’ve got 10% left, I’ve got 0%. I’m seeing websites rank now where the content is either completely auto-generated or the vast majority is AI-made. It seems like pumping out massive amounts of 'slop' pages into Google is actually working. Anyway, I don't give a damn anymore; I decided a while ago that I’d rather make my money some other way."

Comment ID #6828694149 01/25/2026 09:40 am

DataDonkey commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

Would be good if they did this, like a big HCU (Human Content Update) to eradicate all the AI Slop in the search results. But I doubt they will do this since enshitification was their plan to increase queries going back to 2019 at least.

Comment ID #6828687854 01/25/2026 09:25 am

DataDonkey commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up Again January 21

Most of us really made no mistakes because we knew Google's role in the ecosystem. The mistakes were made by Google who now wants to be the entire ecosystem, politicians who didn't protect free markets, regulators who sit by and watch Google's mass IP theft, politicians who protect Google and likely take bribe money for that protection, etc. The historical account of the time we now find ourselves in will hold those accountable for the mass harm they caused. Since most of us produced quality content, and sold quality products and services, our mistake may be not adjusting fast enough. Sad you had to lay 10 people off, but layoffs will be the theme in 2026 for small/mid publishers and those of us that sell - leaving businesses as a shell of what once lived inside.

Comment ID #6828686425 01/25/2026 09:21 am

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