The update began Sept. 24 at 9:15 a.m. PDT, according to Google’s Search Status Dashboard. It applies globally and to all languages.

by Edward Sturm

Fourth Spam Update Of 2026

The September rollout follows three spam updates earlier this year.

Google rolled out spam updates in March, June, and August. The March update took 19 hours and 30 minutes. June took 2 days and 1 hour, while August took 2 days and 16 hours.

Google gave each of the previous three spam updates a rollout window of “a few days.” For September, the company says it may take up to two weeks.

The estimate doesn’t mean the update will necessarily take the full two weeks.

Google uses spam updates for notable improvements to its automated systems for detecting search spam. Google hasn’t said whether this update targets a specific spam policy or tactic.

by Neil Patel
Neil provides a deep dive into what is happening.

Why This Matters

If you notice changes in your rankings or traffic during the rollout, check your Search Console data and consider the timing.

Google says sites that see changes after a spam update should review its spam policies. Sites that violate those policies may rank lower or not appear in results at all.

Google says making changes may help a site improve if its automated systems learn over a period of months that the site complies with its spam policies.

Across the Western world, the idea of a universal digital ID once considered futuristic, has rapidly moved into mainstream policy discussions. What began as a tool for streamlining government services has evolved into a broader framework that could soon shape how citizens access the internet, interact on social platforms, and participate in digital life. The shift is driven by concerns over cybersecurity, misinformation, fraud, and the growing difficulty of distinguishing real users from automated or malicious accounts.

Where Digital ID Systems Already Exist

Several countries have already implemented national digital identity systems, each with varying levels of integration:

• Estonia is the global pioneer. Its e‑ID system, launched in 2002, allows citizens to vote, bank, sign documents, access healthcare, and manage taxes entirely online. Estonia’s model is often cited as the blueprint for modern digital governance.

• Sweden, Norway, and Denmark use BankID‑style systems created through partnerships between government and major financial institutions. These IDs are required for banking, government services, and in some cases, online purchases.

• The European Union is rolling out the EU Digital Identity Wallet, a standardized system intended to unify digital identification across all member states. It will allow citizens to verify identity, store credentials, and access both public and private services.

• Australia has introduced the myGovID, which is expanding beyond government services into private‑sector authentication.

• Canada has been exploring digital ID frameworks at both federal and provincial levels. Provinces like British Columbia and Ontario have begun developing digital identity programs intended for government services, with discussions underway about broader applications.

While these systems currently focus on government and financial services, the next frontier, especially in Western democracies is the integration of digital ID with online communication platforms.

Who Started the Digital ID Movement?

The roots of digital ID trace back to early e‑government initiatives in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Estonia’s system is widely recognized as the first comprehensive national digital identity program. Its success inspired the European Union to begin developing continent‑wide standards, eventually leading to the eIDAS regulation (Electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services), which formalized digital identity frameworks across Europe.

Tech companies also played a major role. As social media platforms grew, so did the problems of impersonation, bots, and misinformation. This pushed governments and corporations to explore stronger identity verification systems. The COVID‑19 pandemic accelerated the trend, as digital services became essential and identity fraud surged.

Digital ID and the Future of Online Expression

The most controversial development is the emerging idea that digital ID could become a requirement for accessing social media or posting online. Supporters argue it would reduce harassment, eliminate bot networks, and increase accountability. Critics warn it could erode anonymity, chill free expression, and give governments or corporations unprecedented control over digital speech.

As Western nations debate the next steps, one thing is clear: digital identity is no longer a theoretical concept. It is becoming a foundational layer of modern digital infrastructure, one that could redefine how people interact, communicate, and participate in public life.

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Windows 11 users worldwide are threatening to abandon Microsoft completely, and insiders say even Bill Gates is alarmed by the scale of the backlash.

With the end of support for Windows 10 near at hand and Microsoft limiting Windows 11 availability to newer PCs, there is a HUGE population of people with older computers who are wondering what to do next. Do they just keep running Windows 10 without support and risk the security vulnerabilities? Do they knuckle under and pay Microsoft more money for one more year of updates? Or do they give up on that older PC and shell out the big money for a new one?

It’s a tough list of choices. Adding to that list is the recommendation, usually made by PC enthusiasts, to dump Microsoft altogether and install Linux in that older computer. Of course, there are many benefits to Linux, like the fact that it uses fewer system resources and is free, but can your average Windows user comfortably make that change without feeling lost?

Remember, the vast majority of Windows users aren’t looking for a new hobby, they just want an operating system that will work without a lot of fuss. They don’t want to learn what a ‘repository’ is, or be forced to memorize a hundred different Terminal commands. What they want (I’d assume) is a Windows-like experience without the expense, the bloatware, the privacy concerns and the incessant advertising.

So for that user, can Linux be a useable option? Or is the learning curve just too steep? In this video we’re discussing what Linux is and who it may be appropriate for. We’re also going to have a tour of the Ubuntu Linux desktop, do some customizations to it to make it more “Windows like” and look at what’s involved in installing and using applications on the platform.

Check These Options Out:

Private Browsers: DuckDuckGo, Qwant Or SearX
Private Operating Systems: Linux or Tails
Private Cloud Servers: Skiff, Mega, pCloud, Proton, Sync, Tresorit
Alternative to YouTube: Rumble, Odysee, Dailymotion
Dump the Sim in Your Cellphone | Webtech Shows How
Dump Googlemaps | Use AppleMaps, Osmand or OrganicMaps

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Windows 11 users worldwide are threatening to abandon Microsoft completely, and insiders say even Bill Gates is alarmed by the scale of the backlash.

Maybe go this route:

Private Browsers: DuckDuckGo, Qwant Or SearX
Private Operating Systems: Linux or Tails
Private Cloud Servers: Skiff, Mega, pCloud, Proton, Sync, Tresorit
Alternative to YouTube: Rumble, Odysee, Dailymotion
Dump the Sim in Your Cellphone | Webtech Shows How
Dump Googlemaps | Use AppleMaps, Osmand or OrganicMaps

Leave a comment

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Free/Paid Subscriptions.

Publishers News
Email: info@publishersnews.net
Web: publishersnews.net
Tel: 1-800-971-5030

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Google Search & Algorithm Updates

Google continually refines its search algorithms to provide more relevant and helpful results. Recent significant updates include:

• Core Updates: Google launched December 2025, November 2024, August 2024, and the multi-system March 2024 core updates to improve overall content assessment and reduce unhelpful content in search results.

• Spam Policies & Updates: New policies were introduced to tackle “site reputation abuse” (parasite SEO), scaled content abuse (mass-producing low-quality content), and expired domain abuse. Algorithmic spam updates rolled out in March, June, and December of 2024.

• AI Overviews (formerly SGE): This feature, which provides AI-generated summaries at the top of search results, rolled out to all U.S. users and is expanding globally. These overviews are intended to help users find information faster but have also brought changes to how organic links are displayed.

• Content Emphasis: Google is placing a greater emphasis on content that demonstrates real-world “experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness” (E-E-A-T), favoring authentic, people-first content over content purely optimized for search engines.

• Deepfake Content Management: A new system was put in place to help ensure deepfake content does not rank highly in Google Search results and to simplify its removal process.

Product and Feature Updates

Google has also introduced new user-facing features across its product ecosystem:

• Android: New personalization features include customized group chats in Google Messages, an AI-redesigned Google Photos editor with one-tap suggestions, and the ability to customize Google Home Favorites across devices.

• Google Workspace: Google Meet now uses picture-in-picture automatically when screen sharing, and users can schedule messages to be sent later in Google Chat.

• Google Ads: The platform is transitioning call-only ads to call assets within responsive search ads and has completed the rollout of a new design interface. AI innovations like Performance Max campaigns are being continuously updated to help advertisers maximize ROI using machine learning.

• Google Cloud: There are numerous advancements in AI infrastructure. These include new capabilities for secure AI agents using the Model Context Protocol (MCP), performance enhancements for Kubernetes Engine (GKE), and new database migration tools leveraging Gemini AI.

These changes show Google’s ongoing effort to integrate AI capabilities into all of its services, focusing on improved user experience, better content quality, and enhanced security.

How-To Work It Next Article

In our next issue we address how this affects smaller businesses. The general cost to adapt to Google requirements and work with them on SEO and web searchability is becoming enormous. Google ads is an example. The starting budget and what you get is substantial. Also the hoops one has to jump through to become visible the organic route in the Google search engine is extensive. Neverending setups. Next article we address this.

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The Billing Bottleneck in Publishing

For newspapers and magazines, monthly billing is not just routine, it is the lifeblood of their operations. Advertising clients, subscribers, and distribution partners all rely on timely invoices to keep the financial ecosystem running smoothly. Yet, many publishers are discovering that their email providers are quietly undermining this critical process. When hundreds of invoices are queued for delivery, only a fraction may actually be sent. The culprit? sending limits, throttling rules, and content restrictions imposed by mainstream email services.

Google’s Gmail, for example, enforces daily caps on outgoing messages and recipient counts to protect its infrastructure and prevent abuse. A publisher attempting to send 300 invoices in one push may find that only 90 go through before the system halts. Worse, seemingly innocuous formatting choices, like using too many capital letters in subject lines can trigger spam filters, delaying or blocking delivery altogether. For an industry where cash flow depends on timely billing, these restrictions are more than inconvenient; they are existential threats.

Why Email Providers Impose Tight Controls

The rationale behind these restrictions is rooted in spam prevention and system integrity. Email providers must guard against malicious actors who send millions of unsolicited messages daily. By enforcing quotas, they reduce the risk of abuse, protect server performance, and maintain trust with global email networks. Gmail, for instance, limits standard accounts to around 500 recipients per day, while Google Workspace accounts may reach 2,000. Once these thresholds are exceeded, accounts can be temporarily suspended, leaving legitimate businesses stranded.

Providers also monitor sending behavior, sudden spikes in volume, repetitive content, or excessive capitalization are red flags. These heuristics are designed to filter out spam but often ensnare legitimate publishers. The irony is stark: while newspapers fight to maintain credibility in a digital age, their billing emails risk being treated like junk mail.

The Awkward Workaround: Batch Sending

Some publishers attempt to sidestep these limits by sending invoices in batches of 90 or fewer. Technically, this works, but it is inefficient and error prone. Staff must manually segment mailing lists, track which clients have received invoices, and repeat the process until all recipients are covered. For organizations with hundreds or thousands of clients, this is a logistical nightmare. Worse, staggered sending can create delays, leading to late payments and strained client relationships.

Batch sending also undermines professionalism. Clients receiving invoices at odd intervals may question the reliability of the publisher’s systems. In an industry where reputation is paramount, such hiccups can erode trust.

Amazon SES: A Scalable Solution

Enter Amazon Simple Email Service (SES), a cloud-based platform designed for high-volume, transactional email. Unlike Gmail, SES allows publishers to send thousands of emails per day with far fewer restrictions. While SES does impose quotas, these are adjustable based on account reputation and usage history. Publishers who maintain low bounce rates and complaint levels can see their limits automatically increased over time.

SES is particularly attractive because it is built for business-critical communication. Invoices, receipts, and notifications are treated as legitimate transactional traffic rather than potential spam. The platform integrates easily with billing systems, enabling automated, large-scale delivery without manual batching. For newspapers, this means invoices can be sent in one sweep, ensuring clients receive them promptly and consistently.

Why SES Works Better for Publishers

1. High-volume capacity: SES supports thousands of emails per day, scaling with demand.

2. Flexible quotas: Limits increase as publishers demonstrate responsible sending behavior.

3. Reduced throttling: Unlike Gmail, SES does not penalize sudden spikes in legitimate traffic.

4. Integration-friendly: APIs allow seamless connection to billing and CRM systems.

5. Cost-effective: SES charges per email sent, often cheaper than enterprise Gmail accounts.

These advantages explain why many newspapers are migrating to SES. It solves the core problem, getting invoices delivered reliably andwithout forcing awkward workarounds.

Is Amazon SES the Only Answer?

While SES is a strong solution, it is not the only option. Other platforms, such as SendGrid, Mailgun, and Postmark, also cater to high-volume transactional email. Each offers varying levels of deliverability, analytics, and integration. However, SES stands out for its scalability and reputation within enterprise environments.

That said, publishers must weigh trade-offs. SES requires technical setup and monitoring, which may be daunting for smaller organizations. Gmail, despite its limits, offers simplicity and familiarity. For some, the choice may hinge on resources: do they have the IT capacity to manage SES, or must they endure Gmail’s constraints?

The Bigger Picture: Email as Infrastructure

This issue highlights a broader truth: email is no longer just communication—it is infrastructure. For publishers, billing emails are as critical as printing presses once were. Yet, the infrastructure is controlled by providers whose priorities center on security, not business continuity. The clash between anti-spam measures and legitimate high-volume needs is unlikely to disappear.

In this context, Amazon SES represents more than a workaround; it is a recognition that publishers need dedicated tools for transactional communication. Just as cloud hosting replaced local servers, cloud email services are replacing consumer-grade platforms for business-critical tasks.

Conclusion

The struggle of newspapers and magazines to send monthly billing emails underscores a paradox of the digital age: the very systems designed to protect email integrity are undermining legitimate business operations. Gmail’s strict quotas and formatting rules, while effective against spam, force publishers into inefficient batch sending. Amazon SES offers a scalable, reliable alternative, enabling publishers to deliver invoices without compromise. While not the only solution, SES is rapidly becoming the preferred choice for an industry where timely billing is non-negotiable.

Ultimately, the lesson is clear: publishers must treat email as mission-critical infrastructure, not a consumer convenience. In doing so, they can ensure that the vital process of getting paid is never left at the mercy of arbitrary limits.

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For affordable yet effective keyword promotion, a combination of free Google tools and budget-friendly third-party SEO software is recommended. Services from specialized affordable agencies or freelancers can also be good options, depending on your needs.

DIY with Affordable Tools

For small businesses or individuals on a tight budget, utilizing a mix of free and low-cost tools provides significant value without the high price of premium suites or agencies.

• Google’s Free Suite: These tools provide the foundational data directly from the source.

  • Google Search Console: Monitor your site’s organic performance, see which keywords you’re already ranking for, and identify/fix technical errors.

  • Google Keyword Planner: While designed for Google Ads, it offers valuable data on search volume, competition, and CPC (cost-per-click) estimates for keyword research.

  • Google Business Profile: Essential for local SEO, ensuring your business appears in “near me” searches and on Google Maps.

  • Google Analytics: Analyze website traffic and user behavior to understand how your keyword efforts are performing.

• Budget-Friendly Paid Tools: These platforms offer more comprehensive features than free tools at a fraction of the cost of industry giants like Ahrefs or Semrush.

  • KWFinder (part of the Mangools suite): Specializes in finding easy-to-rank, long-tail keywords with low difficulty scores, which is great for beginners.

  • Ubersuggest: Provides site audits, backlink analysis, and keyword ideas with a user-friendly interface. It has a generous free plan of 3 searches per day, with affordable paid plans.

  • KeySearch: Offers a comprehensive suite of tools (keyword research, rank tracking, competitor analysis) at a very affordable price point, starting around $17/month.

Affordable SEO Services/Agencies

If you prefer to outsource the work, there are options that cater to smaller budgets, often found on freelance platforms or through specialized local agencies.

• Freelance Platforms: Websites like Upwork or Fiverr host many SEO specialists who offer project-based or hourly rates, which can be more manageable for small businesses. You can review portfolios and client feedback to assess quality.

• Local or Specialized Agencies: Many agencies, like the ones listed in the search results (e.g., Softtrix for YouTube SEO, Sure Oak for backlinking, or various local providers in Canada), offer tiered packages or flexible payment plans tailored to specific needs (e.g., local SEO, technical audits).

Key Advice: Avoid services promising instant top rankings or guaranteed results, as effective SEO takes time and consistent effort. Focus on “affordable yet good” options that offer transparency, clear reporting, and align with your business goals.

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We can help our authors turn a Profile into a Page (or merge a Profile with a Page) by working directly with Facebook. But once this is done, Facebook does not permit the Page to be turned back into a Profile.

Profiles

Profiles are always associated with a real person. Typically the main way to interact with a Profile is through being a “friend”–but this can create problems for people who are well-known. Approving large numbers of friend requests can be time-consuming and each Profile is limited to 5,000 friends. Using the “subscribe” feature can help in this situation; subscribers will see your updates but you won’t have to approve their friend requests. You can control whether posts are public (friends and subscribers can see them) or private (only friends can see them). To encourage people to subscribe, you’ll probably want to add a “subscribe” button to your website. This is a good article on the subscribe feature.

Pages

Pages are associated with brands, public figures and businesses, and can be a good alternative to Profiles for authors who want to enable readers to connect easily. Pages are ideal if you have more than one person who would like to create posts as you can have multiple administrators. They also offer much more in the way of insights and the ability to target posts, as well as the option of installing custom applications. Pages do, however, have restrictions on interactions with individuals, so you won’t be able to interact with close friends in the same way. You won’t be able to “like” a Profile, meaning that your newsfeed will be restricted to other Pages you have liked. You also won’t be able to message individuals or tag them in photos.

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