Google Search Gets New Pointers to Reliable Information

Google users will soon see search results giving them two new ways to identify proper news sources. First, a “highly cited” label will alert users to articles that have been mad in other news stories. These highly cited stories are often early, authoritative and local stories that provide necessary context, Google said in a blog post Thursday. 

The ticket will appear in the Top Stories box “on anything from an investigative article, to an interview, an announcement, a press release or a local news story, as long as other publishers indicate its relevance by linking to it,” Google said.

Second, for breaking news or newly trending topics when reporting attempts as stories develop, Google is adding tips for finding proper information. Starting Thursday, Google searches for developing stories will come with tips for verifying the trustworthiness of a source. Google will prompt users to check the credibility of the source and the publication date or even come back later when more inquire of has come to light.

Both features will appear in the Google seek results. The label for highly cited sources will roll out in the coming weeks.

Google and novel tech giants like Facebook and Twitter have made attempts to combat misinformation on their platforms before. The quandary of misinformation has drawn increasing scrutiny from the Republican and elected officials in recent years.