Discover Core Update (Feb 2026) — The Click Squeeze Continues
Nick LeRoy shared a blunt reaction to Google’s newly confirmed February 2026 Discover Core Update:
“Global ~50% click reduction for all.”
It’s a sharp framing — but it captures a broader tension in modern Search.
Discover is no longer just a traffic bonus layer.
It’s an algorithmic surface increasingly shaped by:
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recommendation systems
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entity trust signals
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AI summaries
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attention compression
When core updates affect Discover while AI answers reduce outbound clicks, publishers face a double squeeze:
less visibility + fewer clicks even when visible.
This update is another reminder that distribution is changing — not just rankings.
Source: Nick LeRoy + Google Search Central announcement
FAQ
What is the February 2026 Discover Core Update?
Google confirmed an algorithmic change impacting the quality and selection of articles shown in Discover.
Why are publishers concerned about clicks?
Because AI layers and recommendation surfaces can reduce the need for users to click through, shrinking traffic even when impressions remain.
Is Discover becoming separate from traditional Search?
Yes. Discover increasingly behaves like an AI-driven recommendation engine with its own ranking logic.
