Google core algorithm update damages Turkish news site traffic
Turkish news websites reportedly experienced significant traffic losses following Google's August 2024 core algorithm update and subsequent search algorithm changes, with some outlets reporting drops of up to 90%. Turkey's Transport and Infrastructure Minister stated the negative impact on Turkish media is a fact that Google must account for under Turkish law, though Google representatives maintain the updates targeted general search quality rather than specific sites.
What happened
Turkish news websites experienced substantial traffic losses following Google's August 2024 core algorithm update and subsequent search algorithm changes in January 2025. Traffic drops of up to 90% were reported by some digital publishers, and Google Discover (Google Keşfet) traffic nearly ceased for news outlets.
Reported impact
Multiple Turkish digital news outlets suffered major traffic declines as a result of the algorithm updates. News sites that previously relied heavily on Google Discover and Google News platforms saw their traffic contributions nearly eliminated.
Index analysis
Turkey's Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that the negative impact of the August 2024 algorithm update on Turkish internet media is a documented fact. Google representatives told Turkish officials that they conduct thousands of updates yearly that do not target specific countries or websites, and that their updates focus on improving general search experience rather than manipulating results to support or harm specific political ideologies.
Governance controls
Turkish officials said they are in ongoing discussions with Google regarding fair service for Turkish media and continued monitoring of the situation. The minister stated that Turkey's position is that the internet ecosystem should operate fairly and that no one should face unilateral sanctions or unfair competition.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.