How to add La Tercera as your preferred news source in Google (and how to influence the algorithm).

Google is changing, and not necessarily for the better. In recent months, finding relevant results has become more difficult. Between AI-generated summaries and algorithm adjustments that prioritize less reliable sources, the search experience is starting to feel inconsistent. As a result, editors and digital media outlets are already seeing the impact. At the beginning of the year, Google implemented one of its usual "major updates." The company in Mountain View makes dozens of adjustments annually, but these broader revisions often redefine how results are ranked and distributed. This time, the effect has been evident: significant drops in traffic and visibility, even for content that has historically performed well. Part of this change is attributed to what some in the industry are already calling "Google Zero," a scenario where users get answers directly on the results page, without needing to click. AI Overviews are at the heart of this transformation. By synthesizing information from multiple sources into a single block, they reduce the need to visit the original sites that reported that information. In practice, Google captures both the attention and the credit. The problem is twofold. On the one hand, the model erodes traffic to media outlets. On the other hand, it is not always reliable for the reader. Various studies have shown that these summaries can include errors or inaccurate references, especially when they include content from unverified or unprofessional sources. Google has been moving in this direction for years, but the turning point came recently with "preferred sources." And although it is difficult to predict how the next updates will evolve, the structural change is already underway: search is becoming a destination, and not the usual starting point. **How to add La Tercera as a preferred source in Google:** If you are here, you probably value good journalism, breaking news, opinion columns that set the tone, and, of course, the stories that explain the world we live in. So that you don't miss anything we do and Google finally understands what you really want to read, I will explain how to set La Tercera as your preferred source. It's a very quick process, it takes no more than a minute, and it helps us a lot to continue providing you with the best content on politics and business, as well as entertainment, sports, and trends (although it also works with other sites that you already know and trust). **How to add La Tercera as a preferred source in Google:** To set La Tercera as your preferred source, click on this link and check the box on the right so that it appears with priority in your Google searches. **Other ways to follow La Tercera in Google:** You can also set a preferred source from your Google searches. When you see the "Featured News" module in the search results, click on the star icon on the right. Make La Tercera your favorite source, check the box, and refresh the page to see the changes. **How to add La Tercera as a preferred source in Google:** If you use the Google app (the one with the colored G) or open a new tab in Chrome on your phone, you are using Google Discover. Here's how to train it: * Open the Google app or a new tab in Chrome on your phone. * Scroll down your news feed until you find any article from latercera.com. * Tap the three vertical dots (⋮) that appear in the lower right corner of the news card. * In the menu that appears, press "Follow" or select the heart icon. * In some versions, you can choose the option "Show more from La Tercera." **How to add La Tercera as a preferred source in Google:** **Tip:** If you ever see a site in your feed that you really can't stand, you can use that same three-dot menu to choose "Do not show content from [site]." Cleaning up the weeds is just as important as watering the good stories. Now, if you prefer to use the dedicated Google News app (or its web version), the process is even more straightforward: * Open the Google News app on your phone (iOS or Android) or go to news.google.com. * Find a La Tercera article. * Look for the star (⭐) icon in the upper right corner and tap it. **How to add La Tercera as a preferred source in Google!** By tapping the star, you are directly adding us to your favorites. From now on, our reports, interviews, and breaking news alerts will have priority in your "For you" section and in the "Following" tab. **Why do this?** Basically, because you should have control over your information diet and not a line of code written in Silicon Valley. By marking us as your preferred source, you ensure that you receive checked information, in-depth analysis, and the stories that really matter to understand what is happening in Chile and the world. We'll see you at latercera.com.