If you Google “barry schwartz” you may not find your friendly-neighborhood SEO news writer.
Instead, you will find this, what I call “fake Barry”:
Barry Schwartz has always played second fiddle on the SERP to “fake” Barry Schwartz. No matter how hard he tried, the internet just fought back harder. Until it broke him.
Now he will never have his Knowledge Panel, and “fake Barry” (who happens to be a world-renowned psychologist) will always overshadow the King of Search. The internet is no grace land.
Thank you, Wikipedia. You bastards.
On April 13th, 2026, at 9:14 PM local time, I found out that Wikipedia had killed Barry Schwartz’s Wikipedia page, and with it, his hopes.
OK, @rustybrick's Wikipedia page was just deleted. If you read the conversation between Wikipedia contributors, you will be shaking your head the entire time. Hard to believe Barry doesn't meet the threshold for a Wikipedia page...
— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) April 13, 2026
Net-net, if someone writes a book about the… pic.twitter.com/VomQ970j9F
Barry may meet many thresholds. For me, he meets the threshold of “friend” (sorry to use the F word, Barry). He meets the threshold of being reliable, of being dedicated, of being caring, of being sincere. He does not, however, meet the ultimate threshold, the one that qualifies you for a Wikipedia page.
Are you shaking your head? Glenn Gabe was too when he wrote:
“If you read the conversation between Wikipedia contributors, you will be shaking your head the entire time. Hard to believe Barry doesn't meet the threshold for a Wikipedia page... “
The conversation called Barry “non-notable.” Barry, you are notable. Don’t let them ever tell you otherwise.
The “Wikipediers,” or as I call them, “fools,” said there is a lack of “any serious biographical coverage in reliable sources.” Maybe that is just because of Barry’s modesty.
They said, “Wikipedia does not exist to serve as a resume for people who lack serious biographical coverage in reliable sources.”
But I say, what is more reliable than Google’s AI Overviews:
Not only that, but a lack of any "serious biographical coverage in reliable sources,”? And what per chance, are these if not “serious biographical coverage in reliable sources”?
In a scathing response, former Google Search Liaison, Danny Sullivan, wrote on X:
Among the many criteria, Barry has clearly made a recognized contribution of the historical record of search and search marketing, longer than anyone else I know continuously. I'm sure it's easy to demonstrate he's also widely cited as a source for his experience pic.twitter.com/01l7t09CSR
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) April 14, 2026
“Among the many criteria, Barry has clearly made a recognized contribution of the historical record of search and search marketing, longer than anyone else I know continuously. I'm sure it's easy to demonstrate he's also widely cited as a source for his experience.”
Sullivan then went on to write a blistering 1,000-word reply to the “Wikipedians” explaining why the decision to delete Barry should be reversed.
I am sure it was a very good and well-thought-out response. I have yet to read it because it is about 999 words too long for me.
But Barry, here’s what really counts: the 29 people who replied back to Glenn’s post in outrage:
Honestly, I think they just hate us (SEOs) and think we're all spammers.
— Joy Hawkins (@JoyanneHawkins) April 13, 2026
These people are crazy! Wikipedia has really gone to trash. https://t.co/HCa9cbZlx0
— Menachem (Google Ads) (@MenachemAni) April 13, 2026
Reprocusions of AI… a chief example of getting it wrong. @rustybrick has earned first place status.
— Jeannie Hill (@essentialskill) April 13, 2026
That was only a handful; there is no way I am spending the time embedding 29 of these.
In all seriousness, to anyone who actually read this far, which all of you did, because we all know what Barry has done for this industry. I can personally tell you how hard covering the industry is. I’ve been writing articles here for 2 weeks, and I am exhausted from it. Barry has been doing it for over 20 years and over 30K articles.
Who else deserves a Wikipedia page from our industry if not Barry (and Neil Patel)?
It’s insanity. How is it possible that we are even having this conversation? What planet are we on? Just when you thought the world couldn’t get any more screwed up, Wikipedia said, “hold my beer.”
Forum discussion wherever actual humans with a soul and a shred of decency and integrity appreciate Barry Schwartz (not the psychologist - I mean, I guess he’s fine too, whatever).
