Google recently released a new version of its Removals tool that temporarily blocks URLs from showing up in search results. The tool also shows which content is no longer being displayed due to either being outdated or because it was filtered out by SafeSearch, a Google feature that removes offensive content.
The new tool can be helpful if you want to quickly remove an article from showing up in search or to find information on why your content was removed from search by third-party requests.
In Google Search Console, Removals can be accessed through the left-hand side menu under Index:
Once selected, you can make a new removal request by clicking the red New Request button in the top-right corner of the screen:
In the New Request pop-up window, you have the option to decide between two different types of removals, according to Google:
- The Temporarily Remove URL option will hide the URL from Google Search results for about six months, and will clear the cached copy of the page.
- The Clear Cached URL option clears the cached page, and wipes out the page description snippet in search results until the page is crawled again.
Outdated Content: Within Removals, the Outdated Content section gives you information on removal requests made through the public Remove Outdated Content tool, which can be used by anyone — not just site owners. This tool can also be used to update search results showing information that is no longer on a page.
SafeSearch Filtering: The SafeSearch Filtering section shows content that has been removed when users use the Report Inappropriate Content tool, or has otherwise been flagged by Google as being only for adults.
If you have any questions about Google's Removals tool in Google Search Console, email support@rebelmouse.com or talk to your account manager today.
