Google is giving users more control over the information they see across Search, Discover and Google News with a new set of personalization features announced on August 20, 2026.
The company says the updates are designed to make it easier for people to find the topics and publishers they care about most. The changes also give publishers new ways to build stronger connections with readers.
Google introduces Preferred Sources
One of the biggest changes is a new interactive Preferred Sources button. Publishers can add the button to their websites, allowing readers to mark a publication as a preferred source on Google.
Once a reader selects a site as a preferred source, Google says that publication can appear more often in places such as Top Stories, AI Overviews and AI Mode. The feature is designed to make it easier for readers to keep seeing content from publishers they trust.
Google says people have already selected more than 600,000 unique sources through its preferred-source system. Publishers can also find implementation instructions through Google Search Central.
Discover will become easier to personalize
Google is also changing how users can control their Discover feeds.
In the coming days, users will be able to use a three-dot menu in the Google app to tell Google, in their own words, which topics or links they want to see more or less of. Google says Discover will adjust the feed based on those requests and remember the preferences.
This could make Discover more flexible for people whose interests change frequently. Instead of relying only on existing recommendations, users will be able to give Google more direct instructions about what they want to see.
Google News gets customized audio briefings
Google is also improving audio news on the Google News app for Android.
Users can now customize their daily audio briefings by choosing specific topics. Google says the briefings include source attribution and links to full articles, giving listeners a way to explore a story beyond the audio summary.
Google also says publishers participating in its news AI pilot program can contribute to deeper coverage of important stories in these briefings.
What the changes mean for readers
The new features are part of Google’s broader effort to make Search, Discover and News more personalized.
For readers, the main benefit is greater control over the sources and topics that appear in their daily information experience. Users can highlight publishers they prefer, adjust Discover recommendations and select specific topics for audio news.
For publishers, the Preferred Sources button could provide another way to build a direct relationship with audiences across Google’s products.
What it means for news websites
For news publishers such as NewsPura, Google’s latest changes are important because visibility in Search and other Google products can have a major impact on how readers discover content.
The new Preferred Sources feature gives publishers an opportunity to encourage loyal readers to select their publication as a preferred source. When users do that, Google says the publication can appear more often in certain Search experiences and AI-powered results.
This does not mean every article will automatically rank higher. Instead, the feature is intended to help users stay connected with publishers they already value.
Bottom line
Google’s new personalization updates give users more control over what they see across Search, Discover and Google News.
The Preferred Sources feature helps users follow publications they trust, Discover is getting more direct preference controls, and Google News is making audio briefings more customizable. Together, the changes point toward a more personalized way of discovering news and information online.
Source: Google, August 20, 2026