Google is rolling out a feature called Preferred Sources that lets people choose which news sites and blogs appear more often in the Top Stories section of Search. The feature is available now in the United States and in India and will reach more users soon.
How the feature works
When you search and see the Top Stories box, you will notice a star icon near the label. Tap that star to add a site to your preferred list. You can search inside the picker to find local outlets or big national publishers. After you select sources, you can refresh results to see more stories from those sites. Google may also add a separate section called from your sources below Top Stories for some queries.
What Google tested and what it learned
Google tried Preferred Sources inside Search Labs before this wider rollout. During the tests, more than half of the users chose four or more preferred sources. Google kept the selections saved for those who opted in to the experiment. The new release preserves those saved choices for people who tested it earlier.
Why this matters to readers
This feature gives readers more control over the outlets they see first when they look up news. People who follow specific local or niche sites can bring those sources closer to the top of search results. That can help people find the coverage they trust faster and spend less time hunting for known outlets.
Concerns about echo chambers and fairness
Giving users the power to favor selected sites also raises risks. If people only pick sources that match their views, they may see less opposing coverage on a topic. Experts warn that this kind of personalization can make ideological bubbles stronger. Publishers could also see shifts in traffic depending on how many users add them to lists and on how Google shows the from your sources block.
Who gets the feature and where it appears
Google says it is rolling the feature out for English-language searches in the United States and in India first. The company will expand availability in the coming days. The setting is optional. Users who do not opt in will continue to see Top Stories as before. Google also keeps other customization tools that let people follow topics or save sources in other ways.
How publishers can make it easy for users to add them
Google will let publishers create direct links that help readers add a site to their preferred list. Publishers can ask readers to use those links on their site or in newsletters. Getting added to many users’ preferred lists could boost visibility in the Top Stories box and in the from your sources section. That makes outreach and clear prompts useful for publishers who want to stay discoverable in Search.
How to use the feature wisely
Pick a mix of outlets that cover news well and that offer different perspectives. Add local reporting for events near you. Check back and update your list when you want different coverage. If you rely on Search to learn about breaking news, include a mix of general and specialized sources so you see both summaries and primary reporting. This approach reduces the risk of seeing only one viewpoint.
Google is giving users new control over the news they see in Search. The feature balances a desire for trusted sources with a risk that personalization may narrow what people read. Users and publishers will test the tradeoffs as the rollout reaches more people.