Google Update May - December 2026

herman69

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why do i think google didnt do any core update or any update but a day ago all links disappeared with niche i-gaming, has anyone experienced this?
 
why do i think google didnt do any core update or any update but a day ago all links disappeared with niche i-gaming, has anyone experienced this?
Yes, you are definitely not alone. The exact scenario you are describing, links suddenly and cleanly vanishing overnight without a formal "Core Update" announcement, is incredibly common, especially in highly volatile, high-stakes niches like iGaming.
 
Funny how the AI detection filter deleted my msg but not the one from the dude above me, LOL.
Anyway, what I tried saying is:
It is indeed true, as co.com etc... TLDs are disappearing. Maybe Google will announce this Spam Update later.
 
why do i think google didnt do any core update or any update but a day ago all links disappeared with niche i-gaming, has anyone experienced this?
There's something going on. If it's not an update, IMO it's a result of the weaponisation of DMCA reports, mass spam reports, Cloudflare reports, and hosing abuse reports that is currently rife in that niche, as well as others. The DMCAs and spam reports because Google is following legal compliance, even when the DMCA report is completely false. The system they use is not fit for purpose any more (unless that purpose is a fairly easy method of on-demand url removal).
 
Google actually rolled out a smaller algorithm update at the beginning of May that heavily targeted thin content and unearned authority. For competitive niches like iGaming, it looks like they triggered a massive real-time link devaluation or localized penalty pattern rather than a full core update rollout. Check your link profile for identical anchor text distribution or toxic footprints, because Google's link classifier has been wiping out network links within hours lately. :cool:
 
I think they removed the “hanger effect” and pushed a strong, broad update.
I’ve observed this in other niches as well.
 
Google actually rolled out a smaller algorithm update at the beginning of May that heavily targeted thin content and unearned authority. For competitive niches like iGaming, it looks like they triggered a massive real-time link devaluation or localized penalty pattern rather than a full core update rollout. Check your link profile for identical anchor text distribution or toxic footprints, because Google's link classifier has been wiping out network links within hours lately. :cool:
I'm not so sure it's about links. I launched drops right before this hidden update and didn't push any links to them whatsoever. Must be a different trigger.
 
I'm not so sure it's about links. I launched drops right before this hidden update and didn't push any links to them whatsoever. Must be a different trigger.

They’re smarter than before. Things have changed a lot.
 
It’s not difficult. The best thing is simply to keep up with the latest updates.

yes..
Were you working with mirrors or EMD subdomains before the update? My main problem is that the site won't recover on the new mirror at all.

It’s not difficult. The best thing is simply to keep up with the latest updates.

yes..
I hear ya! Any chance you could drop a little hint or point me in the right direction, though?
 
I hear ya! Any chance you could drop a little hint or point me in the right direction, though?
If you’re asking about future scenarios, I’d say quit this business.
SEO is dead. AI-compatible phones are already on the market. Information is now being learned without even visiting websites.
I’m serious.
 
If you’re asking about future scenarios, I’d say quit this business.
SEO is dead. AI-compatible phones are already on the market. Information is now being learned without even visiting websites.
I’m serious.
AI has to get the info from somewhere though. If it is not SEO, it will be GEO then.
 
If you’re asking about future scenarios, I’d say quit this business.
SEO is dead. AI-compatible phones are already on the market. Information is now being learned without even visiting websites.
I’m serious.
They always need a source of information. Search engines will soon fall into a trash in - trash out scenario and realise that they need more websites for content. We've already seen how social media is flooded with recycled information. Search engines would disappear if same thing happens to them. Google still relies heavily on ads and they can't let it happen.
 
They are heavily targeting PBNs and they are willing to sacrifice search results relevancy and quality to combat this phenomenon...the biggest flaw in G armour is backlinks and this rank based on references....they have no other solid way to evaluate websites.
 
why can't i reply to my own thread? have to wait for approval?
 
They are heavily targeting PBNs and they are willing to sacrifice search results relevancy and quality to combat this phenomenon...the biggest flaw in G armour is backlinks and this rank based on references....they have no other solid way to evaluate websites.
Google is clearly getting more aggressive against large-scale PBN manipulation, and you can already see it in recent updates. They’re willing to accept some collateral damage in relevancy if it helps reduce artificial authority inflation.

The core problem is still the same though: modern search engines heavily rely on references, mentions, links, and entity validation to measure trust. Backlinks remain one of the strongest signals because there’s still no perfect alternative for evaluating reputation at scale.

That’s why low-quality PBNs are dying fast, while stronger branded ecosystems still survive:

  • real traffic
  • branded searches
  • user behavior
  • citations across multiple platforms
  • topical consistency
  • aged entities
  • social signals
  • natural link velocity
The old “100 expired domains + exact match anchors” strategy is becoming easier to detect every year. Search engines are moving toward evaluating whether a site behaves like a real brand or just a manufactured ranking asset.

Backlinks still work — but isolated link manipulation without real signals around it is becoming much riskier.
 
I don’t believe the May Google core update is the main reason. The update was definitely significant and affected many content-driven websites, as well as other types of sites. I saw widespread ranking drops among websites that had been aggressively scaling low-quality AI-generated content. It looks like Google decided to clean up search results by reducing visibility for websites that were mass-producing thousands of low-value pages. And this wasn’t limited only to AI-generated content.
 
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