Google is currently experimenting with the incorporation of social media accounts and posts into its Discover feed. This trial encompasses content from popular platforms such as Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube Shorts. The addition of social media content could potentially transform the Discover feed, making it more dynamic with real-time updates alongside news stories. The Discover feed is undergoing significant changes, particularly noticeable in the redesign of its card layout.
As of April, Google has shifted from the traditional curved-edge card design to a more expansive full-width format, a change already implemented in the beta version 16.15.38 of the Google app. Additionally, new features such as shortened links for articles shared within the Discover and Google app feeds have also been rolled out to many users. At a recent event in Madrid, Google announced plans to further expand the Discover feature to the Google.com homepage for desktop users. While this update is not yet widely available, it is expected to be rolled out soon for users in the United States.
Alongside this, users can anticipate seeing social media accounts and posts integrated within their feeds. Previously, long-form YouTube videos appeared in Discover, and this new testing could allow users to scroll through YouTube Shorts, Instagram, and X posts directly in the app, as reported by 9to5Google. This new social media integration aims to present users with posts or accounts tailored to their preferences and search histories. For example, users might see YouTube Shorts related to their favorite basketball teams or Instagram posts from musicians they enjoy.
Tapping on these posts would either open the respective app on the user’s device or redirect them to the mobile website. However, it should be noted that the current rollout of this feature is still unclear, and not all users, including myself, have access to it yet. Whether Google will include additional social media platforms remains unknown. What are your thoughts on these changes in the Discover feed?
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