Google’s top stories carousel in search results may now display multiple results for the same story, adding a second link for context.
This change was initially observed by Valentin Pletzer, who shared screenshots on social media, highlighting a new feature within the top stories carousel labeled "for context." This update allows a second link to the same source, such as Forbes and CNET, to provide additional context.
The additional “for context” link directs to the same source, as confirmed by Pletzer, granting publishers the opportunity to occupy two slots in the top stories carousel. This update could potentially prolong the visibility of older stories, retaining them in the carousel with the help of the additional link.
For publishers, particularly those offering in-depth coverage, this serves as a reward for keeping audiences informed about new developments. For users, it enhances the understanding of news stories by providing a comprehensive view without needing to conduct multiple searches.
Related: AMP No Longer Required For Top Stories
Google Confirms This is a New Feature
Currently, this feature appears to be limited. It may not be replicable for every news search, but its presence is confirmed. A spokesperson from Google explained that the feature is implemented when a publisher is identified to have background content related to a timely news story.
This suggests that there is no direct method for publishers to trigger the “for context” link. However, incorporating internal links to related stories can alert Google to the presence of background content, which might then be featured as a second link.
This information was confirmed by The Verge.
