Google has officially launched a new feature called “Preferred Sources” in its Search Labs, now available to users in the United States and India.
This experimental tool allows people to select their favorite news websites and blogs, which will then appear more frequently in the Top Stories section of Google Search.
You can opt into it over here,
Once users opt in through Search Labs, they can star their preferred sources. Google will then prioritize stories from those outlets when displaying news results.
The feature is designed to give users more control over the type of news they see, especially in fast-changing areas like politics, entertainment, and technology.
Google $GOOGL is rolling out a new feature called “Preferred Sources” in the US and India, which allows users to select their preferred choice of news sites and blogs to be shown in the Top Stories section of Google’s search results – Tech Crunch pic.twitter.com/DFKsmkbFfc
— Evan (@StockMKTNewz) August 12, 2025
According to Search Engine Land, this feature is part of Google’s broader effort to make Search more personalized and user-driven. It builds on previous updates that allowed users to follow topics and customize their “For You” tab in Google News.
The feature is currently available only in English and is expected to expand to more regions and languages based on user feedback. Google has not yet confirmed a timeline for global rollout.
Experts believe this move could impact SEO strategies, as publishers may need to encourage users to star their sites to maintain visibility in Top Stories.
As noted by Search Engine Land, it may also shift how news is discovered, favoring trusted and frequently starred sources.