Verified checkmarks used to be a symbol of importance, but Elon Musk changed that by letting anyone buy them. Now, Google might be trying to make them special again by adding verified checkmarks to its search results.
Right now, it’s just a test, and only a few Google users can see it. But if you’ve used social media in the past few years, the idea will feel familiar.
The checkmarks are blue and appear next to business links. The good news is that regular people can’t get them, but the bad news is that influencers and “media personalities” can’t either—at least for now.
The checkmarks are supposed to show that you’re clicking on a real link for the actual company, which is helpful since Google search is full of spam. However, Google also admits it “can’t guarantee the reliability” of a business or its products.
Google spokesperson Molly Shaheen told The Verge:
We regularly experiment with features that help shoppers identify trustworthy businesses online, and we are currently running a small experiment showing checkmarks next to certain businesses on Google.
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