Google has recently updated its stance on the use of the canonical link element for syndicated content. According to Google’s latest information, it is not recommended to use the canonical link element to prevent duplication when content is syndicated. Instead, Google advises blocking access to the syndicated content altogether. This new piece of information was shared by Google in a help document.
In the section titled “syndicated content,” Google states the following:
“The canonical link element is not recommended for those who want to avoid duplication by syndication partners, as the pages are often significantly different. The most effective solution is for partners to block the indexing of your content.
Previously, Google’s advice was to require syndication partners to use a canonical tag to indicate that the content is being copied from your website. However, this approach didn’t always prevent syndicated content from outranking the original source. Google suggested either blocking the content or using the canonical tag. In their previous statement, Google wrote, “Publishers who allow others to republish their content can help ensure that their original versions perform better in Google News by requesting that republishers block or use canonical tags. Google News also encourages republishers to proactively block such content or use the canonical tag to enable us to identify the original content and credit it appropriately.”
Even before that, Google News had a specific tag to indicate the content source. However, this tag was rarely used, leading Google to discontinue its support for it.
This update from Google is important for those who have been using the canonical tag to prevent content duplication when syndicating. It appears that Google now advises against relying on the tag alone. Instead, they recommend taking measures to block the syndicated content from being indexed.
If you have publishers who syndicate your content and have been requiring them to use the canonical tag, it may no longer be an effective strategy to ensure your content outranks your syndication partners.
Can you compel them to block the content from Google? It seems unlikely.